Dhumal urges centre to set up AIIMS type institute in HP

Shimla, Jan 7 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today urged the Centre to set up an AIIMS like health institute in the state to provide better health facilities.

He also demanded setting up of other professional colleges which could help in making the state an education hub of the country.

Institutes like IIMs, IITs and NIFT would help in upgrading the technical skills of the students, he said during his meeting with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram at New Delhi.

Mr Dhumal also urged the Centre to sanction Rs 800 crore for Shimla Water Supply Scheme under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Mission (JLNYRM), saying that technical feasibility of this scheme had been established by independent external consultants who were preparing a detailed project report.

The scheme would be completed in four years and would help in saving a sum of Rs 100 crore per annum on power charges.

He also demanded the setting up of eco-task-force comprising ex servicemen for preserving the ecology and environment of the state and said that eco-task-force of Territorial Army had been raised for Catchment Areas Treatment Plan of a hydro electric project.

The Chief Minister urged the Finance Minister to extend the industrial package up to 2013 to fuel industrialisation in the state.

Besides, the Himachal Government has sent proposals for execution of 856 MW projects to the Union Power Ministry that has recommended these projects to the Department of Economic Affairs for getting funds under Asian Development Bank, he said.

He said these hydel projects should be funded in the ratio of 90:10 (grant and loan) by the Centre.

The Centre should also initiate steps for the setting up of an I IT and Central University in the state as per Mr Chidambaram's announcement in Shimla on October two, he added.

The Finance Minister assured Mr Dhumal that the Centre would initiate steps to fulfill its promises and provide liberal financial assistance to state for expediting the development process.

UNI XC AS PS BK2015