Glowing tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on his 63rd birthday

Shimla, Aug 20 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh led the state in paying tributes to former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi on his 63rd birthday by offering flowers at his statue at Sadbhawana Chowk here today and hailing him as a ''dynamic and visionary leader.'' .

The occasion was marked by singing of devotional songs, prabhat pheries (morning rallies) and blood donation camps organised by different organisations all over the State.

As the birthday was also being observed nationwide as Akshay Urja Divas, the Chief Minister flagged off the rally of students to create awareness about the importance of non-conventional energy as envisioned by the late leader.

Addressing the students, teachers and others on the occasion, Virbhadra Singh said the objective of HIMURJA (H.P. Energy Development Agency) was to formulate a plan to fulfill the demand for the energy out of renewable and non-conventional sources of energy in the State which would also reduce dependence on traditional sources for energy thereby raising the living standard of the people in rural areas.

He said the state government was making sustained efforts in this direction and added that solar cookers, solar geysers etc were also being provided to the people of the State.

Chief Minister said state government had also reserved all the hydel power projects upto 2 MW to the people of the state and added that projects from 2 MW upto 5 MW were also being given to Himachali Entrepreneurs and cooperative societies on priority in the State.

He said 30,460 solar cookers, 3462 solar heating systems, 12,576 C.F.L. systems and 1,15,882 pressure cookers were provided to identified families on subsidized rates so far in the State.

He said HIMURJA was also implementing the mini/micro hydel programme upto 5 MW capacity to meet the local energy needs of the local people.

UNI