We have tried to find solutions to problems of people, says Dhumal

Shimla, Mar 7 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Prem Kumar Dhumal today said his government has tried to understand and find solutions to the problems of different sections of people.

''We have tried to give relief to common man and not burden him further,'' he said at a press conference after presenting his first Budget of the new BJP Government.

Admitted that all this would have an impact on the financial condition on the state, Mr Dhumal said the government would manage to bridge the gap between income and expenditure partially by taking loans and partially by savings.

He said the government was unable to open the medical colleges on its own for reason of costs.

''The government is already panting in running IGMC and then Tanda Medical College. So we cannot go in for more medical colleges in government sector now. There are so many private parties from the state and outside, which have approached the government to run these medical institutions and we are in the midst of it,'' Mr Dhumal said.

He said the previous government had come out with a notification for government medical college after the announcement of elections, without keeping any monetary provision.

''We will take action against the government officers responsible for it, as the Election Commission has already taken strong objection to it and has submitted a report in this regard,'' he said, adding that it was surprising that the government went ahead with the notification of medical college in government sector, despite the fact that the health department had expressed that it was not feasible.

The Chief Minister said the Congress Government had virtually lied that the industrial investment in the state had touched 30,000 crore.

The actual investment is not more than Rs 3,375 crore so far.

He said the government cannot stop taking loans immediately as the condition right now is that it has to take loans even for repayment.

''But we are trying to put the system right,'' he added.

UNI AS HS JS1826