HP govt prepared to meet drought situation, says CM

Shimla, Feb 7 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government is fully prepared to meet drought situation due to prolonged dry spell in the state.

Addressing a public meeting at Kandwal in Nurpur sub-division of district Kangra, he said the state government would initiate all necessary steps and provide adequate relief to the people in case no precipitation occurred in the state in the next few days.

Mr Singh was in the district to lay the foundation stone of 521.30 metre long Chakki Bridge, which would connect the neighbouring states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir with the state, along with Union Shipping, Road Transport and Surface Minister T R Baalu and Minister of State KH Muniyappa.

The estimated cost of the bridge was Rs 20.76 crore and was on the National Highway No 20.

He said due to the strong and effective steps taken by the UPA Government at the Centre, the prices of essential commodities were coming down.

The Central and state government would do everything possible to check the rising prices of essential commodities, he said.

He said strict vigil was being maintained over the stockists and traders to maintain regular supply of essential commodities besides ensuring that they displayed rate list of the items being sold in their shops.

Claiming that prices of all essential commodities were gradually coming down, he said people were being provided with all commodities at reasonable prices and would ensure a regular supply in future.

The Chief Minister said his government would open Government Degree College at Jhanduta in Geharwin Assembly constituency of district Bilaspur and announced the upgradation of Government Middle School, Kandwal to High School.

Reiterating his government's resolve for balanced and uniform development of the state, he said his government was paying special attention towards the backward, difficult and neglected areas.

Mr Singh said Himachal was one of the few states, which had the best educational facilities and road networks in all its census villages and added this was due to the efforts of the successive Congress state governments.

State Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan, who was also present on the occasion, he said the poorest of the poor had been focal point of the government's policies.

UNI