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I’m not being dictated to by RSS: Himachal CM

I’m not being dictated to by RSS: Himachal CM

Jai Ram ThakurBy Vishal Gulati,

Shimla : Facing the challenge of retaining all the four Lok Sabha seats, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur says he is not being dictated to by the RSS and that he enjoys a free hand to lead the party in the coming elections.

For him, development work and no witch hunting is the mantra.

“This accusation (of RSS remote controlling him) does not have an iota of truth. “Our central leadership has reposed full faith in me and has given a free hand to run the affairs in the state. The RSS is an apolitical nationalist organisation, which has nothing to do with state affairs,” Thakur told IANS in an interview, dismissing rumours in political circles that he is being dictated by BJP ideologue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and party’s senior leaders.

Five-time legislator Thakur (54) was elevated after the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal, suffered an abject defeat in the 2017 assembly polls. Several names were doing the rounds at the time, including that of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, whom the party did not relieve from national politics.

“I don’t think there is anything wrong in seeking the advice of Dhumal and Nadda, on any regarding matter related to the development of the state,” Thakur stated categorically.

On getting free hand from the high command to lead the party in the elections, Thakur, who has won his fifth consecutive assembly election, said: “The elections are fought with collective efforts and with collective strategy. Being head of the state I would have greater responsibility to motivate the rank and file to ensure the party’s victory.”

“I am fully confident that the BJP will retain all the four Lok Sabha seats (from the state) in the General Elections,” Thakur added.

Carrying out development on the debris of decades of vendetta politics, Thakur said the BJP has brought a generational change in the state politics.

“This change has brought new ideas of governance. Shunning the politics of revenge and counter accusations, we have put forth development as our guiding principle in reforms. We have taken several new people-centric initiatives in 13 months,” the plain-speaking Thakur said.

The first-time Chief Minister, who has 11 ministers — half of them first-timers, believes the biggest achievement of his government has been winning over the confidence of the people.

“The government from the day one started working with a sole aim of development and welfare of the people. My government is working without any vendetta and vengeance towards our political opponents.”

The state, he said, has implemented several decisions and schemes which are bound to transform the economy and the people.

“The Jan Manch (public meeting in every district headquarters on first Sunday of a month) programme launched by us has been appreciated even by our political opponents.

“Till date, over 33,966 grievances of the public have been redressed in 106 Jan Manchs. Similarly, the very first decision of the government to lower the age limit of senior citizens for availing old-age pension without any income criteria from 80 to 70 years have benefitted over 1.60 lakh people,” he said.

Thakur, who rose through the ranks, believes establishing direct contact with the common masses will definitely help his party retaining four Lok Sabha seats in the ensuing General Elections.

On the central leadership reposing faith in him and his first-time cabinet colleagues and bringing generation change in the state politics, he said: “Yes, I agree that the Vidhan Sabha elections results of 2017 brought in a generation change in the state politics. Since all my cabinet colleagues are young and have a new vision and new vigour, this would definitely help progress and development of the state.”

“I did not face any challenge as such during the last one year. But still the major concern before me has been to bring back the derailed economy of the state back on track and understand the developmental aspirations of the people. For this, I toured 65 (of the 68) assembly constituencies during this one year to understand the developmental needs.

“I am sure that after a year in office now I am more clear and precise about the expectations of the people,” he said.

The Himalayan state, whose hydropower generation as well as horticulture and tourism are major contributors to the economic development, is facing one of its worst financial crises – with its loan liability at nearly Rs 50,000 crore.

“We have inherited a loan burden of over Rs 46,500 crore from the previous government due to their financial mismanagement and unmindful expenditure. Therefore, the biggest challenge before us was to bring back the derailed economy back on the track.”

“It is true that due to limited financial resources of its own the state has to heavily depend on financial assistance and loans from the Centre and external funding agencies. Still soon after assuming the office in the state, the government took some concrete steps to stop wasteful and unproductive expenditure, besides striving hard to create its own resources for income generation.”

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

—IANS

Rains, snowfall caused Rs 1,600 crore loss to Himachal: CM

Rains, snowfall caused Rs 1,600 crore loss to Himachal: CM

snowfallShimla : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday informed a central team that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 1,600 crore this year due to unprecedented rain and untimely snowfall, which also claimed 343 lives.

At a meeting with the inter-ministerial central team in Mandi, he said the Public Works Department had suffered a major loss.

The damage to roads and bridges has been estimated at Rs 930 crore.

Thakur said 405 incidents of landslides and 34 cloudbursts have been reported in the state.

The Irrigation and Public Health Department suffered a loss of Rs 430 crore, while the loss to the agricultural crops was estimated at Rs 130.37 crore.

The Chief Minister said 343 persons lost their lives due to flashfloods, landslides, cloudbursts and weather-related road accidents.

He said 4,033 stranded persons were rescued from Chamba, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts between September 3 and October 1.

The Chief Minister urged the inter-ministerial central team to recommend the maximum financial support from the Union government in view of the extent of losses.

—IANS

Himachal CM prioritises strengthening state’s strategic infrastructure

Himachal CM prioritises strengthening state’s strategic infrastructure

Jai Ram Thakur

Jai Ram Thakur

By Vishal Gulati,

Shimla : First-time Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has made strengthening the mountain state’s weak infrastructure — road, rail and air — a priority as this would not only boost national security but also increase tourist flows. Himachal Pradesh shares a 260 km border with China.

Five-time legislator Thakur, who rose through the ranks, said he has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman about the importance of laying the Pathankot-Leh rail line that will ensure round-the-year movement of troops to forward areas where China has already strengthened its road and rail networks on its side.

Thankur, who assumed office on December 27, 2017, talked about the completion of the tunnel beneath the majestic Rohtang Pass, one of the country’s strategically most important infrastructure projects, within a year. The 8.8-km, horseshoe-shaped tunnel is an engineering marvel whose excavation was completed last October.

“I met the Defence Minister in this regard soon after assuming office. Issues relating to expediting its work were discussed. She assured that they will try to get it constructed within a year,” Thakur told IANS in an interview.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a wing of the Defence Ministry is constructing the tunnel. It was earlier scheduled to be opened for traffic by 2015.

Once ready, the Rohtang tunnel will be a boon for the cold deserts of Lahaul Valley, where over 20,000 people remain cut off from the rest of India in winter owing to the closure of the Rohtang Pass, a major attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists and located 52 km from Manali.

Besides reducing road distance by approximately 46 km and saving travel time of about four hours, the tunnel will open up new vistas of trade and tourism and generate jobs for the locals.

On another important infrastructure project, Thakur said: “Seeing the sensitivity along the (Pakistan) border, the Centre is keen to set up another bigger airbase at a strategic location close to the existing one in Pathankot.”

He said expansion of the existing airport at Gaggal near Kangra town, some 225 km from the state capital, could be an alternative to the Pathankot airbase in Punjab, which was attacked by Pakistani terrorists in 2016.

“Kangra airport would also be used for defence purposes — for landing fighter and big aircraft. Moreover, this is at a safe distance from the border and strategically important in view of the increasing tension with the neighbouring countries.”

Thakur, who has discussed this with Sitharaman, said a central government team visited the Gaggal airport a few days ago to study the feasibility of its expansion.

“The airport expansion means acquisition of over 570 acres land and we will provide this. If the central government gives its nod, it will boost our tourism industry too.”

The state’s youngest Chief Minister said popular tourist resorts Shimla, Manali, Narkanda, Kasauli, Kalpa and Dharamsala are chock-a-block with the tourists.

“Our focus is now on developing virgin destinations for which there is a budgetary provision of Rs 50 crore for the first time in the state’s history.”

On mining, he said his government has the Himachal Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) and Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2015, with an aim to simplify procedural requirements and punish offenders.

While there is a provision of two years of jail for illegal mining, the fine has been enhanced 20 times — from Rs 25,000 to Rs 500,000.

In fact, illegal mining is even being cited as one of the reasons for the Beas river tragedy in which 24 students of a Hyderabad engineering college lost lives in 2014.

On the economic front, this tiny hill state is facing one of its worst financial crises, with loan liability at Rs 46,502 crore.

“The situation is such that the state can’t manage affairs without loans. We will try to limit it by taking continuous measures, including austerity. At the same time we will see that development is not affected,” he said.

“Our focus is to strengthen our major income-generation sources like opting for scientific mining, rationalising hydropower generation, tapping tourism in unexplored areas and promoting horticulture.”

“We are going to offer some concessions and incentives to independent power producers to attract investments. Likewise, we are roping in private investments in tourism,” Thakur said.

Hydropower generation as well as horticulture and tourism are major contributors to the economy of Himachal Pradesh.

Not believing in having disputes with neighbours, he added: “We will try to resolve all our issues — (we are) seeking the release of 7.19 per cent share of the state, which runs into crores of rupees, on account of BBMB projects, along with arrears, from Punjab and Haryana without getting into any sort of confrontation.”

In 2011, the Supreme Court upheld Himachal’s claim in three Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) hydro projects and directed compensation for denial of the state’s legitimate share from November 1, 1966, but the state has not got its due so far.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

—IANS