Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh asked the Health department to think over relaxing the norms pertaining to the population criteria for setting up PHC or CHC as per the peculiar geographical conditions of the particular areas of the State. At present the population criteria for setting up PHC is 30 thousand and that for CHC is between 80 thousand to one lakh. The Chief Minister also asked to devise a plan to run the Tube-wells which could provide irrigational facilities.
He was presiding over the second day of the MLA priority meeting with the MLAs from Kangra, Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur in the forenoon session here today.
While reacting to certain views expressed by some MLAs that their development works were getting hindered due to Forest Rights Act (FRA), Chief Minister said that 13 specific developmental activities could be carried out in forest area to the extent of one hectare. He said that the forest land could be diverted for the clearance of development projects up-to one hectare and the concerned Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) would have the power to do so.
Shri Virbhadra Singh asked to construct the road from Jhunga-Devi to Harsipattan bridge, on the same specification and pattern as was from Bhawarna to Jhunga-Devi in Sulah and Jaisinghpur respectively. He also gave direction to hand over the Lahaul-Spiti Bhawan to DC Lahaul Spiti and to take up measure to stop sliding of land near the Baijnath Shiva temple.
He also directed the IPH and PWD departments to prepare the Detailed Project Reports (DPR’s) early so that the works could be started.
Under FRA the few out of thirteen linked development activities are construction of schools buildings, roads, irrigation canal, Aanganwadis, dispensary or hospital, fair price shops, rain water harvesting structures, Skill-up-gradation or vocational training centers, Community centers, tanks, other minor water bodies etc.
Even in the meeting held yesterday the MLA’s complained that maximum development works were being delayed due to forest clearance and the project cost escalates with passage of time.
It was also revealed in the meeting by senior officers of the state government that Himachal was the only state in the country where all forest rights of the people were settled.
It was also widely discussed that instead of big drinking water or irrigational schemes, which take long time to get completed, the small hamlet or cluster villages can be provided hand-pumps to suffice the drinking water needs of the people. It was also discussed to bring all the 22 hand-pumps of the agriculture
department under IPH so that they could be utilized in a proper manner. There were also around 807 tube-wells of IPH department, for which adequate technically qualified personnel can be kept so as to run them efficiently.
INDORA
MLA Shri Manohar Dhiman urged for filling up the posts of field staff in IPH, PWD and Electricity departments. The Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to fill up posts of line-mans, water guards and other like staff in the fields all over.
Shri Dhiman also urged for additional funds for Damtal_ Indora road via Kandrori and to repair on priority the Indora-Gangath-Kathgarh road, for which the Chief Minister directed the concerned department to complete the maintenance and repair works on the roads in Indora and especially the one leading to Kathgarh via Gangath.
JAWALAJI
MLA Shri Sanjay Rattan urged for more roads and bridges in Changer area and demanded a sum of Rs 50 crore for undertaking development works in Changer sector. He urged for more hand-pumps and Solar lights in his constituency, requested for removal of low tension electric wires and replacing the same with underground cable in Jawalaji town, Bus service for Changer area, Polytechnic College for Jawalaji and an IPH division at Jawalaji. He also demanded 33 KV electric sub-station at Dehrian or Lagdoo.
JAISINGHPUR
MLA Shri Yadvinder Goma, urged for additional funds for construction of Primary Health Center (PHC) building at Panchrukhi, Majhera, Khaira and building of Ayurveda hospital at Kosri on priority. He also urged for filling up the posts of doctors at Bhawana. He urged for repair and re-surfing of Balakrupi road and a foot bridge for a cluster of six villages in gram panchayats Lahru- Kuun- Balakrupi to be connected with each other.
SULAH
Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Jagjeevan Pal, urged for speeding up tender process of PWD and IPH on the projects where the Chief Minister has already laid foundation stone. He also urged for construction of some technical institution in his assembly segment.
BAIJNATH
MLA Shri Kishori Lal requested the Chief Minister to direct the concerned department to initiate measure to stop the land-sliding process beneath the historical Shiva temple at Baijnath. He placed his priority for development and beautification of Kheer-Ganga Ghat in Baijnath along with parking facility, to revive and repair the water Khuls, including the famous Baijnath Khul. He also placed his demand for constructing Paprola by-pass for heavy vehicles, to undertake development of Hotwater springs at Tatwani and a road to Jalsu from Uttrala.
KINNAUR
Deputy Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha Shri Jagat Singh Negi urged for providing more share in budget under the centrally sponsored schemes for tribal areas. He also urged for relaxing the norms of population criteria for construction of PHC or Community Health Centers.
LAHAUL & SPITI
MLA Shri Ravi Thakur, urged to fill up the posts of doctors, air-lift of patients and others on demand. He also asked for increasing the subsidy on Pea crop and increase in budget of Power tillers and sprinklers. Shri Thakur also demanded the channelization of Spiti River as the span was too wide and the area can be reclaimed for agricultural purpose he said. He also urged to pursue the case of forest clearance of Mudh- Bhawa road connecting Spiti valley with Kinnaur.