CPM promises to improve basic infrastructure in Shimla town

Shimla, May 10 (UNI) The Shimla district committee of the Himachal Pradesh CPM today released its manifesto for the May 23 Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections, promising to improve basic infrastructure and solve the drinking water scarcity of the town.

''To give a fillup to tourism and attract Information and Technology (IT) industry, the party promises to improve the town's basic infrastructure,'' party's Shimla district secretary Sanjay Chauhan said at a press conference here.

Criticising the successive Congress and BJP governments for not carrying planned development of the town for the last many years, he said the parties proclaiming to overhaul the town's infrastructure after winning the elections were dishing out ''distant dreams'' to the people.

Mr Chauhan said besides constructing new roads, sewerage system, public toilets and public health centres (PHCs) under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JLNURM), the party would lay special emphasis on providing regular clean drinking water to the people of the town.

Lamenting the lack of basic infrastructure of the town, he said it had not undergone any change since the pre-independence era, while the population of the town has grown exponentially.

He said since the state was not suited for heavy industries, the party invite IT industries and BPO's to set up their units in the state and provide alternative employment opportunities to the people who were being retrenched from organised and government sectors due to the new liberal policies being pursued by the governments.

Referring to the demolition of the huts in the forest area of the town, he said the party was for regularisation of these huts on the ''as it is where it'' basis since the state government failed to come out with a coherent policy on this issue.

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