First steel arch bridge of Asia in Kinnaur (HP)

Shimla, July 17 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh achieved Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has dedicated ''the first innovative steel arch bridge of Asia'' to the nation in the tribal district of Kinnaur.

The bridge has been built over Sholding Khad constructed at a cost of Rs 861. 75 lakh near Bhawanagar in Kinnaur.

The Chief Minister also inaugrated the realigned road of NH-22 from Wangtoo to Kagsthal yesterday. A number of bridges have been constructed over the Sutlej and Panvi Khad on this realigned road.

The total expenditure on this project is around Rs 9.20 crore.

Mr Singh also laid the foundation stone of a bus stand, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.12 crore, and mini secretariat building to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.44 crore at Bhawanagar.

Addressing public gathering at Bhawanagar yesterday, Mr Singh said nature had been playing havoc with the lives of the tribal people who were already facing numerous problems. He said his government had been according highest priority to the development of tribal areas and had formed a separate Tribal Sub-Plan out of its Annual Plan, earmarking nine percent of the Plan budget over and above the other regular budgetary provisions for the development of the tribal areas .

He said the centrally sponsored projects were also being obtained for specific developmental requirements of the tribal areas.

The Chief Minister said the Pabbar Valley Corporation had been constituted to look into hydel potential in the Pabbar river basin so that the same was exploited expeditiously.

He said as the HP electricity board had experienced and competent manpower to execute hydel power projects, the Corporation would be supplementing the endeavours of the board in harnessing the identified hydel potential.

UNI XC-HS PA RN1454