During his one-day tour of Nurpur assembly constituency on Wednesday, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh laid the foundation stone of Rs 2.50 crore parking complex, inaugurated Harad khud bridge completed at a cost of Rs 1.43 crore and performed ‘bhoomi poojans’ of Rs 37-cr road widening work of the Nurpur-Saazinalla-Tunu Hatii stretch and Rs 3.29 crore Charuri-Gheta link road.
Addressing a gathering at Jassur, the Chief Minister cautioned chemists against selling unprescribed drugs. Anyone found doing so would be heavily fined, he said. “Drug abuse is a burning issue and we have to stop our youth from falling prey to drugs. The youth are pillars of a healthy society and they must refrain from drug use so that they can contribute in building a strong and vibrant nation,” he said.
The Chief Minister said during the last three years, 8,842 hand pumps had been installed in Kangra district. Besides, 62 irrigation schemes were in progress in the district, including Rs 205-crore Phinna Singh irrigation scheme at Nurpur.
He said as many as 66,450 persons in Kangra district were being provided social security pension for which a sum of Rs 43.55 crore had been spent during the last three years. The government was also providing a sum of Rs 1,100 as old-age pension to those above 80, irrespective of income certificate.
He said the electricity network was being strengthened in the state. The government would provide three-phase lines to every village so that there was uninterrupted power supply.
As the government could not provide employment to everyone in the state, Rs 500-crore Skill Development Allowance Scheme was being implemented for unemployed youth. Under this scheme, an allowance of Rs 1,000 per month was being provided to unemployed youth and Rs 1,500 to youth with special abilities.
Local MLA Ajay Mahajan thanked the Chief Minister for expediting the development of Nurpur area during the past three years.
Following the demands raised by the MLA, the Chief Minister announced an ayurvedic health centre at Charuri, drug rehabilitation centre at Nurpur, upgrade of Nurpur civil hospital from 100 to 135-bed hospital, an indoor stadium at Nurpur, a PWD rest house at Suliali, a bus stand and a subdivisional office of pollution control board at Nurpur, science and commerce classes in government senior secondary schools at Aund and Upper Khanni, besides upgrade of government schools.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Neeraj Bharti; chairman, OBC Welfare Board Chander Kumar; and chairman of HP Education Board Balbir Tegta were present on the occasion.
