HP govt to restructure debt repayment system

Shimla, May 3 (UNI) In a bid to save higher interest payments on loans borrowed by Himachal Pradesh, the Government will be restructuring debt repayment system, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said today.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Dhumal said the Government had endeavoured to enhance the purchasing power of every section of society by releasing five per cent interim relief to State employees from November 2006.

The Chief Minister said besides increase in daily wages by 33 per cent, the increase in social security from Rs 200 to Rs 300 had benefited 2.3 lakh pensioners in the State.

He said efforts would be made to check the spiralling price of essential commodities by keeping strict vigil over wholesale traders and hoarders, who stocked to create artificial crisis.

The Chief Minister said Flying squads had been formed to check hoarding and overcharging rates of commodities in markets.

He said, ''the previous Congress government had announced subsidised ration scheme, without making provisions of budget for it, just to gain political mileage. However on coming to power, the BJP government not only cleared the arrears valued Rs 70 crore but also made additional provision of Rs 90 crore for current financial year'' he added.

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