BBMB not cooperating to resolve issues related to Himachal: Jai Ram

Replying to a question raised by Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said talks have been held several times with the BBMB regarding development works in the project affected areas, but the management is not taking the issues raised by the Himachal government seriously

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur has slammed the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities for not cooperating in resolving the issues related to the state.

Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur aid that his government would soon summon the chairperson of BBMB and ask him to resolve the matters related to the state. (HT Photo)

Replying to a question raised by Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal, the chief minister said talks have been held several times with the BBMB regarding development works in the project affected areas, but the management is not taking the issues raised by the Himachal government seriously.

He said that his government would soon summon the chairperson of BBMB and ask him to resolve the matters related to Himachal. He said that MLAs from all the affected assembly constituencies, including Sundernagar, Balh and Nachan, would also be called in the meeting with the BBMB chairperson so that he they could present their point of view.

Jai Ram admitted that siltation in the BBMB’s Sundernagar reservoir caused damage in Balh assembly constituency.

Earlier, in response to the original question asked by MLA Rakesh Jamwal, power minister Sukhram Chaudhary said due to a land dispute, construction work of the bridge at Dharnada-Talwali has been delayed. He said work would start as soon as the dispute is resolved.

Replying to another question raised by legislator Narinder Thakur, the power minister said that 5504KW capacity solar panels have been installed on the roofs of 583 government offices in the state. He said that no solar power park has yet been established in the state, although one such park of 880MW capacity has been approved for Spiti valley.

He further said that the solar power park would be set up by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam and its DPR would be submitted to the central government by May. Apart from this, another 400MW capacity solar power park is proposed to be set up in the Kinnaur.

“State government is giving subsidy for solar power plants up to 10KW. In the budget for the next year, the government has increased the subsidy per kilowatt from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000,” he said, adding that at present there is no provision for allotting solar power plants to unemployed youth without tender.

Replying to a question asked by Fatehpur legislator Bhawani Singh Pathania, revenue minister Mahender Singh Thakur said a provision of ₹2 crore has been made for the construction of the proposed mini-secretariat in Fatehpur.

Rural development minister Virendra Kanwar has said that the state government will consider opening block development offices in Palampur, Jwalamukhi and Doon assembly constituencies. He was replying a question raised by Ramesh Dhawala. Kanwar said so far, 88 block development offices have been opened in the state.

Replying to a question asked by Rohru MLA Mohan Lal Brakta, Mahendra Singh said the pending relief money for deaths due to natural calamities will be released to the claimants by March 31. He said that relief amount up to ₹ 4 lakh is released under SDRF and NDRF to the affected family members in cases of death due to natural calamity. He said that a total of 19 cases of relief claims were pending with the SDM office in Rohru.

441 Himachal students have returned, nine holed up in Ukraine, neighbouring countries: CM

To date, 441 Himachal students have returned home safely from Ukraine whereas nine students are still holed up in the war-torn country and its neighbouring nations, said chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday.

In a statement made suo motu in the Vidhan Sabha assembly, Jai Ram said 441 students from the hill state have been flown back through special flight under Operation Ganga.

He said eight students, who have reached the neighbouring countries, refused to return to India and were still staying there. “It’s their personal decision,” he said. “We all are concerned about the safety of students stranded in Ukraine,” he added.

Among the nine students, seven are in Poland and Slovakia and two in Sumy. “They are being evacuated to the safer locations via Ukraine’s western border,” said Jai Ram.

The remaining students will also be brought back home in special flights, he said.