16 करोड़ रुपये की लागत से बनने वाले बखीरना पुल का निरीक्षण

शिमला 30 दिसम्बर,
शिक्षा, विधि एवं संसदीय कार्य मंत्री सुरेश भारद्वाज ने आज रोहडू विधानसभा क्षेत्र के तहत लगभग 16 करोड़ रुपये की लागत से बनने वाले बखीरना पुल का निरीक्षण किया तथा अधिकारियों को इस पुल का निर्माण कार्य युद्ध स्तर पर कर मई-जून माह तक इसे तैयार करने के निर्देश दिए। उन्होंने कहा कि रोहडू में शैखल, लोअर कोटी, समोली, मुझाड़ा सहित छः पंचायतों को जोड़ने वाले इस पुल के बनने से जहां रोहडू शहर में भीड़-भाड़ कम होगी वहीं बाईपास से होकर इस पुल के इस्तेमाल से लोगों को आने-जाने में भी सुगमता मिलेगी।
शिक्षा मंत्री आज राजकीय वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक कन्या पाठशाला रोहडू के वार्षिक पारितोषिक वितरण समारोह में बतौर मुख्यातिथि शामिल हुए। उन्हांेने कहा कि प्रदेश की प्राथमिक पाठशालाओं में आरम्भ की गई प्री-प्राईमरी कक्षाओं में 50 हजार से अधिक बच्चे शिक्षा ग्रहण कर रहे हैं, जो कि केवल 3 हजार 700 पाठशालाओं में आरम्भ किया गया है जबकि इसके तहत कुल 11 हजार पाठशालाएं सम्मिलित हैं।
उन्होंने कहा कि प्रदेश के सभी वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक पाठशालाओं को शत-प्रतिशत सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी तकनीक प्रयोगशालाओं के साथ जोड़ने की प्रतिबद्धता के तहत निरंतर क्रम जारी है।​
उन्होंने इस विद्यालय की एक करोड़ 38 लाख रुपये की लागत से बनने वाली भव्य दिवार व विद्यालय के अन्य भवन के निर्माण कार्य 1 मई, 2020 से पूर्व करने के निर्देश अधिकारियों को दिए। उन्होंने कहा कि बहुउद्देश्य प्रेक्षागृह तथा कन्या छात्रावास के निर्माण के लिए बजट में प्रावधान किया जाएगा ताकि इस विद्यालय को प्रदेश के अन्य आदर्श विद्यालयों की श्रेणी में शामिल किया जा सके।
उन्होंने अटल आदर्श विद्या केन्द्र आरम्भ करने के लिए उचित स्थान का चयन करने के निर्देश दिए। उन्होंने कहा कि गुणात्मक एवं संस्कारयुक्त शिक्षा वर्तमान समय की आवश्यकता है, जिसकी पूर्ति अभिभावक व अध्यापक अपने कार्यशैली व व्यवहार के माध्यम से पूरी कर सकते हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि बच्चा किसी गलत सोबत में न पड़े तथा नशे आदि से दूर रहें, इसके लिए माता-पिता के साथ-साथ शिक्षकों को भी निगरानी के माध्यम से बच्चों को ध्यान रखना आवश्यक है।
उन्हांेने कहा कि प्रदेश सरकार द्वारा गरीब परिवार का प्रतिभावान बच्चा शिक्षा से वंचित न रहे इसके लिए मुफ्त शैक्षणिक सुविधाएं उपलब्ध करवाई जा रही है, जिसके तहत मिडे-मील, अटल वर्दी योजना तथा किताबें व छात्रवृत्तियां शामिल हैं।
उन्होंने इस अवसर पर अपनी ऐच्छिक निधि से स्कूल प्रबंधन को 51 हजार रुपये देने की घोषणा की।
उन्होंने वर्षभर शैक्षणिक, सांस्कृतिक, खेल व अन्य गतिविधियों में उत्कृष्ट प्रदर्शन करने वाले बच्चों को पुरस्कार वितरित किए तथा बच्चों को निरंतर परिश्रम कर आगे बढ़ने की प्रेरणा दी।
इस अवसर पर उप-निदेशक प्रारम्भिक शिक्षा भाग चंद चैहान, विशेष कार्यकारी अधिकारी मामराज पुंडिर, डीएसपी रोहडू सुनिल नेगी, प्रधानाचार्य सुभाष संघेल, उप-प्रधानाचार्य संजीव शर्मा, तहसीलदार जुब्बल चन्द्रमोहन ठाकुर, भाजपा मण्डल अध्यक्ष बलदेव रांटा, भाजपा राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी सदस्य संजीव चैहान, स्कूल अध्यापकगण व बच्चों के अभिभावक उपस्थित थे।

Rs. 116 crore developmental Projects for Rohru constituency

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh dedicated and laid foundation stones of developmental projects worth Rs. 116 crore in remote Dodra Kwar, Chirgoan and Rohru regions of Rohru assembly constituency of Shimla district today.

As the Chief Minister could not land at Kwar helipad  due to bad weather he telephonically announced to lay  foundation stone of vocational Training Centre at Kawar on which Rs.6.40 crore will be spent and   foundation stone of Gosango bridge  to be constructed with an outlay of Rs. 3.60 crore.  He also telephonically announced opening ceremony of Civil Hospital at  Kawar.

While at Chirgaon, the Chief Minister inaugurated bus stand at Chirgoan on which a sum  of Rs.2.34 crore has been incurred.

He also laid foundation stone of additional block of GSSS Gaonsari to cost Rs. 4.69 crore, performed opening ceremony of Sub Tehsil at Jangla, laid foundation stone of Jhalwari to Bhamwari road to be completed by incurring  Rs.3.48 crore,  laid foundation stone of Bhamwari to Manghara road to cost Rs.3.59 crore, laid foundation stone of Gadsari to Kharshali road on which rupees three crore will be spent, laid foundation stone of Sandasu to Telga road to be completed at a cost of Rs. 3.68 crore,  laid foundation stone of Andhara-Dogli-Gaonsari road to be constructed at a cost of Rs.4.14 crore,  laid foundation stone of Chirgaon-Gushali-Rohal road to be completed at a cost of Rs.4.54 crore, laid foundation stone of Sondali to Sindashli road to cost Rs3.34 crore, laid foundation stone of Chilala-Dugyani-Jhaknoti road to be completed at a cost Rs.4.30 crore, laid foundation stone of Jangla-Thali road to be constructed at a cost of Rs.6.61 crore, laid foundation stone of Tanganu-Janglikh road to be completed by spending Rs.4.60 crore, laid foundation stone of Tikkari to Tanganu road to  cost Rs.10.66 crore, laid foundation stone of Kashadhar Dhakgaon road to be constructed at a cost of Rs.7.19 crore and laid foundation stone of Multi Purpose Hall of PG College Seema on which Rs. 3.11 crore will be incurred.

Virbhadra Singh inaugurated Forest Rest House Ranol constructed at cost of Rs. 28 lakh.

He inaugurated bus stand Rohru completed with an outlay of Rs. 10.34 crore

 Later while at Rohru, Chief Minister laid foundation stone of GSSS Balsa in G.P. Karalash to be constructed at a cost of Rs.3.39 crore, laid foundation stone of Munchara to Baggi road to cost of Rs.3.76 crore, laid foundation stone of Sharog to Bhali road to be completed by incurring Rs.2.33 crore, laid foundation stone of Brasli Kainchi Runda Jhaltu road on which Rs.2.98 crore will be spent, laid foundation stone of link road to village Pekhadhar to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.69 crore, laid foundation stone of Braal to Bharoli road to be completed by spending Rs. 1.83 crore.

The Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of additional academic block of Govt. Polytechnic College Rohru  to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.50 crore

He inaugurated Lift Water Supply Scheme (LWSS) Karchhari and Katlah   constructed at a cost of Rs.1.45 crore. This would benefit a population of around 2700 of the area of 14 habitations of above panchayats.

He also inspected the ongoing work of civil hospital Rampur and directed for its early completion.

Civil Hospital, Kisan Bhawan at Sandaasu

Congress believes in equal development; Mera Bamsan Hamirpur water scheme for 214 villages achievement of present Government and not BJP

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh addressing a well attended gathering at Chirgaon in Rohru assembly constituency of Shimla district today, announced up-gradation of Community Health Centre, Sandaasu to civil hospital besides he announced setting up a Kisaan Bhawan at Sandaasu. The Chief Minister also announced post graduate classes in Masters in Commerce (M.Com), Masters in Hindi and Masters in Economics in Seema degree college.

“Now when  elections are nearing, I exhort all people of the constituency not to fall prey to false promises and propaganda of opposition. Many seasonal leaders will come to lure and divide people on basis of region and religion, but it was upto people to not let ulterior motives of these people accomplished”, he said.

 The Chief Minister said that the drug menace was a world wide problem. Not only India but other countries were also facing the similar problem, he said. In  Himachal, strict vigil was being maintained for nabbing the drug peddlers, he said. The Chief Minister said that it was necessary to nab those who were supplying these drugs.

He denied any rift between the congress party and the organization while talking to media.

He said that Chanshal was known for its Ski slopes which were one of the best in the world and the government was keen to tie  up with few agencies to take up the project though a lot of infrastructure had to be created. Himachal offers all in tourism activities, whether it is skiing, water sports, adventure sports etc. The State has a vast potential for religious tourism and government was providing all basics amenities in religious tourism sector to pilgrims. Apart from this rural tourism was also gaining momentum and the government had invited private parties keen to invest in tourism sector, said the Chief Minister.

 He said that he was often being criticized by the opposition for opening large number of educational institutions, adding that he failed to understand that why the opposition wanted the coming generation to remain uneducated or bereft of higher studies, said the Chief Minister. As of today all the 54 new colleges opened by the present government have been notified, he said, taking the total strength of colleges to 132, the two more remaining to be notified.

He directed the electricity department to maintain power lines and replace them with steel poles before winter set in. He also exhorted to conserve the traditional water bodies in the region.

He stressed to continue with cultivation of red rice, the paddy crop delicacy of the region,  adding that the people should continue growing it for additional financial profits. However, few people created hindrances in construction of Vegetable marketing yard in Mendhli, but at last it has now come up which will benefit the farmers and horticulturalists of the area immensely.

He said that even one of the biggest water supply Mera Bamsan water supply scheme was sanctioned and commissioned by the congress government in Hamirpur catering to water needs of 214 villages of 44 Panchayats. There was a time when the people of Hamirpur use to conserve water and lock the ‘Khatris’ (the traditional water resources). It was the congress government and not the BJP which commissioned the biggest ever water supply scheme for the people of Hamirpur, he said. 

He also inspected the ongoing construction work of Government Senior Secondary School, (Girls) Rohru and Civil hospital building Rohru and that of post graduation Government college Seema and directed for early completion of the projects. 

A mega multi disciplinary medical camp at Rohru and Jubbal

A mega multi disciplinary camp was organized at Rohru and Jubbal in Shimla district, today by the department of Ayurveda. The camp includes the specialties of Medicine, Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, Eye/ENT, Homeopathy, Unani and Ksharsutra surgery. For the first time the Tibetan system of medicine Sowa Rigpa and Siddha specialty of South India had also participated in the camp.

A spokesman of the Ayurveda Department said that the camp was organized by the department under the directions and guidance of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Ayurveda Minister Karan Singh. He said that the camp was funded by the National Ayush Mission. The team of 20 doctors and paramedical staff of the department of Ayurveda was lead by Dr Dharmila Chauhan and District Ayurveda Officer Shimla. The services of Laboratory, ECG and Yoga Guidance were also provided.

He informed that the doctors had also sensitized the ASHA and Anganwadi workers along with the locals of the area. He said that today the camp was held at Samoli in Rohru where doctors examined and treated 678 patients of the area. He said that the camp would be held in Chirgaon on 21st and Chapoti kurd on 22nd and Hatkoti on 23rd March .  The surgery of the patients would be done at Civil Hospital Jubbal.

MLA Mohan Lal Brakta, Vice Chairman Zila Parishad Surender Retka and local Panchayat Pradhan Ratan Chand were also present.

CM urges people to donate land for road construction

The government would check the quality of roads being constructed  throughout the State and is committed to provide road connectivity to left out areas, said Chief Minister  Virbhadra Singh while addressing the gathering at Badiyara and Mandli after he performed the Bhumi Poojan of Badiyara-Tikkar-Diswani road and foundation stone laying ceremony of Channelisation of Pabbar River .
The Chief Minister said that people should make some sacrifice in order to get their areas developed and should voluntarily donate land for the development projects. “One should voluntarily donate land for roads as its opens new vistas of development in those areas and where ever desired by the land owners, the government would provide adequate compensation to them", he said. He also urged for speedy transfer of land in this regard. He said that a double lane bridge would be constructed near Samoli connecting Mehandali by-pass road adding that Rohru to Dhamwari road along with Jangla valley roads would be widened and mettaled. He said that a parallel road would also be constructed to connect the bus stand by constructing a bridge over Shikhri river.

He said that Government Senior Secondary School buildings at Masli and Bhaloon Kainchi were being expanded with additional blocks besides construction of a PWD rest house at Dodra. He said that we want to provide better environment and infrastructure to the students. The Chief Minister said that the government had opened as many as 94 colleges in the State and over the last two and half years our Government has opened over 24 colleges mostly in rural and far flung areas to benefit the Girl Child. He said that the GSSS (girls) in Rohru would be made a model school with hostel facilities on analogy of Portmore School, Shimla.

Virbhadra Singh said that the people of the area would be benefitted by Hydel projects being constructed in Rohru as it will to solve the electricity problems in times to come. He added that the power from such projects would be provided to residents of Rohru before being distributed further.

He said that the government mulls to channelise Andhra river in Chirgaon bazzar so that the bazzar could be protected from floods. He said a sum of Rupees 50 lakhs had been released for construction of Bus Stand at Chirgaon and if required more funds would be provided for its completion.

He said that no construction would be allowed on river beds after channelisation on the land reclaimed. He also listed the developments works worth crore in Rohru.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Vidya Stokes, while addressing the gathering said that the government was committed to provide irrigational and drinking water facility to the people of the State and left out habitations by 2016. She said that out of 53,604 habitations as many as 40,458 habitations had been provided drinking water facilities till March 2015 and the department targets to provide water to 2,074 habitations by 2015-16.

Earlier, MLA Rohru welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and listed the developments of the area.

President DCC Shimla Rural,  Kehar Singh Khachi, Chairman Zila Parishad,  Chandreshwar Prasad,  Chairperson, Child Welfare Council,  Rajkumari Soni, Vice-Chairman HIMUDA,  Yashwant Chajjata, Chairman, NAC, Rohru,  Rajkumar Nittu,  President Block Congress Committee,  Ishwar Dass Choharu, Member Women Commission, Smt. Kiran Dutta, Member BoD, Forest Corporation,  Surendra Rekta, Member BoD, HPSIDC,  Devendar Khurana, General Secretary HPCC, Smt. Geeta Negi, President, Shimla Youth Parliamentary Constituency,  Sanjay Thakur,  ADM Shimla,  DK Rattan, SP Shimla,  D.W. Negi were also present on the occasion amongst others.

CM dedicates projects worth Rs 200 Crores in Rohru assembly segment

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on his second day tour of Rohru constituency performed foundation stone ceremony of Pabbar River Channelization to cost Rs. 191 crore at Mandli. The river would be channelized from Tikkri to Hatkoti and 177.68 hectares of land would be reclaimed benefiting population of 2,000 houses. The channelization on completion would save property worth Rs 662 crore which remains under threat from floods in the Pabbar river. Besides, it would also provide protection to 19 water supply schemes of the area, six bridges and two power projects which falls in danger zone of the river.
The Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of 22 KV Sub Station at Kansakoti in Rohru to cost Rs. 2.16 crore. This will benefit population of as many as 50 villages of 16 Panchayats of the area benefiting population of 25,000. Besides it will also solve low voltage problem along with transmission and distribution losses.

Virbhadra Singh also performed foundation stone ceremony of additional accommodation of Government Senior Secondary School (Girls), at Dashalani to cost Rs.1.77 crore. He also performed Bhumi Poojan of Badiyara-Tikkar-Diswani road to cost Rs. 4.85 crore, Bhumi Poojan of Kanewara-Khashkandi road to cost Rs 4.05 crore.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated Indoor Stadium at Samala in Rohru completed with an outlay of Rs. 11 crore which is constructed by HIMUDA in area of 48,500 square feet with intake capacity of 1,000 people.

Earlier, Members of Press Club Rohru called on the Chief Minister and thanked him for providing necessary infrastructure to the club.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Vidya Stokes, MLA, Mohan Lal Brakta, President DCC Shimla Rural,  Kehar Singh Khachi, Chairman Zila Parishad,  Chandreshwar Prasad,  Chairperson, Child Welfare Council,  Rajkumari Soni, Vice-Chairman HIMUDA,  Yashwant Chajjata, Chairman, NAC, Rohru,  Rajkumar Nittu,  President Block Congress Committee,  Ishwar Dass Choharu, Member Women Commission,  Kiran Dutta, Member BoD, Forest Corporation,  Surendra Rekta, Member BoD, HPSIDC,  Devendar Khurana, General Secretary HPCC,  Geeta Negi, President, Shimla Youth Parliamentary Constituency,  Sanjay Thakur,  ADM Shimla,  DK Rattan, SP Shimla,  DW Negi were also accompanied the Chief Minister.

No place for false propaganda and witch hunting in politics: Virbhadra Singh

While addressing a public meeting at Parsa in Gram Panchayat Shekhal in Rohru tehsil of district Shimla Chief Minister  Virbhadra Singh said that he won’t get moved by the false propaganda of the opposition. He said that he became Chief Minister not because of mercy of former Chief Minister  PK Dhumal, but Congress Party came to power in the State in a democratic manner. He said that with full love and support the people of the State chose him as Chief Minister of the State for sixth time.

“Twice false cases were framed against me by BJP government and both time I came out clean and now the Compact Disc (CD) case filed in the court against me was turned down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court sending shock waves in the opposition camp”, he said. He said that though there existed difference of opinions with  Shanta Kumar but  Shanta Kumar was a man of principles. “Blaming me of unaccounted income by Dhumals was witch hunting and unfortunate, as I have nothing to hide and all I have has been inherited from my ancestors”, he said, adding the only way of saving BJP was by way of removing  Prem Kumar Dhumal from the party.

He said that he believes in visiting the people at their door-steps to better understand their problems and grievances and moreover he gets a chance to monitor the progress of development schemes and take action accordingly if the work was not being done.

He said that Rohru and its suburbs were well connected with roads and now the need of the hour was to mettle and maintain them and appreciated the efforts of PWD to complete the work of Rohru by-pass road in time bound manner.  He said that vegetable market which would be completed within a year or two, which would facilitate thousands of farmers and horticulturalists of the region.

He said that Rohru hospital was upgraded to 200 bed hospital and would cater to the needs of the people of the area.

Earlier Shimla Parliamentary Constituency Youth Congress President  Sanjay Thakur welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and other distinguished guests on the occasion. He also placed demands of the area before the Chief Minister.

CM dedicates development projects worth Rs. 23.50 crore in Rohru area

Opportunities were being explored to tap tourism potential on slopes of Chanshal in Rohru area, as developing slopes and ropeways etc requires a lot of paraphernalia, efforts in this direction were being done sincerely. This was stated by Chief Minister  Virbhadra Singh while answering to the queries of media after performing foundation stone laying ceremony of phase-I of new Marketing Yard/ vegetable market at Rohru in Shimla district to be constructed at a cost Rs. 10 crore.
 Chief Minister said that process of selection of site for multi-level parking and commercial complex at Rohru was underway and on finding a suitable site, the parking would be constructed.

On being asked about the slow progress of the construction work on Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohru road, the Chief Minister said that there were few in opposition who were trying to play blame game on the road, though, he too was also not enough satisfied with the pace of ongoing work and have issued strict direction to the Chadha and Chadha construction company to complete the work assigned without delay.

“I love to listen to all type of songs, may be in any language depending   upon its contents, its lyrics and music, said Chief Minister when asked by the media about his favourite song. He said that he loves to watch serials like Maharana Pratap and Ashoka whenever he gets time to see this and was not much interested in watching movies. Besides, most of the time he spends on watching news channels, he said.

Chief Minister also dedicated development projects worth Rs. 23.50 crores which includes foundation stone of Rs 10 crore Vegetable Market at Mehandli. Being constructed in an area of 34.17  bighas, the marketing yard would have 26 shops with an auction platform of 600 square metre to facilitate the local growers and farmers. It would cater to the marketing needs of apple producing belts of Rohru, Chirgaon, Dodra-Kawar and few panchayats of Jubbal tehsil.

Chief Minister directed the Marketing Board to immediately release a sum of Rs 3 crore for the vegetable market.

 He also inaugurated Mehandali bridge completed with an outlay of Rs 7 crore and also inaugurated Mehandali-Bakhrina by-pass road constructed with a cost of Rs  75 lakh. He also inaugurated Rs.  3.50 crore CA store of HPMC at Rohru.

The Chief Minister also performed Bhoomi Pujan of Parsa-Dhara-Shekhal road at Parsa to cost Rs 7.58 crore and performed Bhoomi Pujan of Rohru-Brara-Sharog road to be constructed with a cost of Rs 3.75 crore. This would benefit population over one thousand.    

 Chief Minister was accorded warm welcome on his arrival at Rohru.

MLA,  Mohan Lal Brakta, President DCC Shimla Rural  Kehar Singh Khachi, Chairman Agriculture Produce Marketing Board Dr Shubhash Manglet, Vice Chairman HIMUDA  Yashwant Chhajta, Advisor Marketing Board  Devendar Shyam, Chairperson Child Welfare Council Mrs Rajkumari Soni, Chairman APMC Shimla  Mahendar Stan, Chairman NAC Rohru  Rajkumar Nittu,  President Block Congress Committee  Ishwar Dass Chuharu, Member Women Commission Mrs Kiran Dutta, Member BoD Forest Corporation  Surendra Rekta, Member BoD HPSIDC  Devendar Khurana, General Secretary HPCC  Mrs Geeta Negi, President Youth Congress Shimla Parliamentary Constituency  Sanjay Thakur,  ADM Shimla  DK Rattan, SP Shimla  DW Negi were also accompanied the Chief Minister.

Himachal HC summons firm building Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road

Shimla, Aug 31 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed officials of a private company engaged in building a World Bank-funded road in Shimla's prominent apple belt, to appear in court on September 8 over its failure to achieve milestones in the construction. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the orders on a public suit on the delay in constructing the Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road.

The court also directed the state government to file response to the suggestions made by the court-appointed two-member committee in terms of the latest report submitted by it.
In December last year, the bench took suo motu cognizance and treated the petition as a public suit but excluded the petitioner - Narender Bragta, horticulture minister in the previous BJP government - from the case as he was a former minister.
The petition sought directions to the state government to complete the construction of the 80-km long Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohru stretch efficiently and properly within the stipulated time-frame before June 1, 2016.

from https://in.news.yahoo.com/himachal-hc-summons-firm-building-world-bank-funded-134404760.html

Bragta hails HC intervention on Theog road

BJP leader and former Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta hailed the intervention of the High Court for early completion of the Theog-Hatkoti road.
He said after the intervention of the High Court, it looked possible that the road would be constructed within a year.

Accusing the state government of favouring the construction company C&C, he said it was given the tender despite losing the financial bid and the government had been claiming that the road would be completed in two years. The contract should have been split into two parts and awarded to two companies for early completion. “With the onset of the monsoon the Theog-Hatkoti road is full of mud, causing inconvenience to commuters,” he added.

CM directs C&C Co. to expedite work on Theog-Kharapathar-Hakoti road

The work on Theog-Kharapathar-Hatkoti (TKH) road should be expedited and the major bottlenecks would be removed before the apple season sets in, stated Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the review meeting of Public Works Department and the representatives of the Chadha and Chadha (C&C) Construction Company here today.

The Chief Minister said the focus should be to blacktop the six kilometers on both sides of Kharapathar by end of June positively with proper drainage system so as to provide much needed relief to the people of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru and adjoining areas for transportation of their apple produce. He said that this was the most critical area and needs to be properly metalled besides carrying on the routine work. He said the alternative roads would also be repaired for transporting apple and government would ensure that the fruit reaches market well in time.

 “All the alternate routes will be maintained during the apple season so that horticulturists do not face any problem in marketing their produce”, he added.

 As of now, a sum of around Rs. 333 crore had been sanctioned by the World Bank for construction of road in two phases from Theog to Kharapathar and further from Kharapathar to Rohru.

He directed the company to undertake the work on war-footing. The Chief Minster also said that wherever the land acquisition process for widening of the road had been completed and it should be taken over as soon as possible.

 I know some people were creating hindrances on the issue of land acquisition which was causing delay in constructing the road, he said. The Chief Minister asked the local elected representatives of the party to intervene where such cases were found and get the issues solved amicably. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to personally monitor such cases. He said  revenue officials be directed to be on the spot along with the PWD authorities where issues of acquisition was involved and not to un-necessary create hindrances and also asked the representative of C&C Company to keep liaison with the Deputy Commissioner and to seek his help in case of any problem.

 The Chief Minister directed the PWD Department to blacklist those contractors who have been assigned the task of some major road projects and were delaying the work on the same. He also ordered that the departments concerned to give immediate permission to the company for using mobile crushers at Kharapathar wherein he directed the C&C Company to complete the codal formalities as soon as possible for mobile crushers.

 “The people of the area were expecting bumper apple crop this season and I want that they may not face any inconvenience in transporting their crop” he said, adding that the TKH road was priority of the State Government.

  Inquiring about the Lal Dhang- Paonta- Rajban (LPR) road which has been declared as National Highway, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction on the ongoing work from Paonta Sahib onwards and directed the PWD to blacklist the contractor who was delaying the work on LPR road.

 Capt Rajbir Singh the MD of C&C company assured the Chief Minister that he will definitely start the metalling work from 1st June, 2015 completing  22 kilometers patch of road from Theog to Gumma and the 12 kilometers road from Rohro towards Hatkoti.

 The Chief Minister also directed the authorities to blacktop certain portion of road at Chailla in front of Primary Health Centre.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Rohit Thakur, MLAs Mr Balbir Verma, Mr Mohan Lal Brakta, Chairman, HP Housing Board, Mr Yashwant Chajta, Chairman APMC, Mr Mahendar Stan, Additional Chief Secretary, Mr V.C. Pharka, ACS (PWD), Mr Narinder Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Dinesh Malhotra, Engineer-in-Chief PWD, Mr Naresh Sharma, Special secretary Finance, Mr Akshay Sood were also present on the occasion amongst the representatives of C&C Company.

Theog-Hatkoti road to be completed next year: CM

The Chief Minister, who was presiding over the concluding ceremony of three-day long State level Rohru festival at Rohru today, said that this road existed as State highway since 1968 but was de-notified by the previous BJP government to ‘district rural road’ in May, 2001.

He said today they (BJP) were taking the credit of getting it declared as national highway just to misguide the people and the fact was that it was the present State government which taken up the issue with the government of India repeatedly for getting this road declared as national highway.

“I personally held meetings with the World Bank officials and it is the Congress government which pursued the matter time and again with the Centre for getting the road funded from the World Bank earlier in 2003, and now has been successful in getting this road declared as national highway”, he said.

The Chief Minister said, as of now, a sum of around Rs. 333 crore had been sanctioned by the World Bank for construction of road in two phases from Theog to Kharapathar and further from Kharapathar to Rohru. Though, the harsh weather and untimely rains had hindered the work, yet the government would ensure that it get completed by next year so as to provide much needed relief to the people of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru and adjoining areas. He said the alternative roads would also be repaired for transporting apple and other produce and government would ensure that the fruit reaches market well in time.

“All the alternate routes will be maintained during the apple season so that horticulturists do not face any problem in marketing their produce”, he added.

He said only those people were making irrelevant statements regarding this road who try to take political mileage by spreading rumors. If some work would have been done by the previous government, then the present government would have thought of extending this road up to Dodra-Kwar. He said the Kumarhatti-Nahan road which now had been completed, had also been declared as national highway due to the persistent efforts of the present government.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said that during the regime of previous government, as many as 13 lakh apple bags, approximately worth Rs. 35 crore under market intervention scheme (MIS) could not reach the market and was destroyed or thrown away because dilapidated condition of road, for which BJP stands responsible.  However, the present government had ensured that the produce of the horticulturists reach the market well in time, he added.

He said a new bus stand was being constructed at Rohru and the buses thereafter would route through by-pass for entrance and exit. Besides, a parking would also be constructed near the new bus stand having facility to park 400 to 500 vehicles and another parking would be developed near Rohru.

The Chief Minister announced for adding 50 more beds to the civil hospital Rohru and the qualitative health services would be provided to the people of the area. Additional accommodation would be created for the school girls at Rohru along-with hostel for the girls and if required, it would be extended in the near future.

“I want to make it a modern school of girl education so that they get qualitative education near to their home”, said that Chief Minister.

He congratulated the people of the area for successfully conducting the festival and hoped that the festival would continue with the same zeal promoting the local culture and traditions.

He also distributed prizes to the winners of the sports tournament.

Local MLA Mr Mohan Lal Brakta, Block Congress President Mr I.D Chhoharu also spoke on the occasion.

Deputy Commissioner Mr Dinesh Malhotra, who is also the Chairman of the Rohru festival welcomed the Chief Minister and honoured him.

President, Nagar Parishad, Rohru Mr Raj Kumar Nittu demanded parking slots nearby Rohru bazaar.

A colourful cultural function was also presented on the occasion by the school children.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the site of the proposed bus stand at Chirgaon and directed the authorities to remove the encroachments on the land there upon immediately so that the construction work could be expedited.

Vice Chairman, HIMUDA, Mr Yashwant Chhajta, Vice President, HPCC, Smt Geeta Negi, Member BoD Industries Mr Devender Khurana, President Youth Congress Shimla constituency Mr Sanjay Thakur, President Youth Congress Rohru Mr Sujay Aggarwal  were also present on the occasion.

Narinder Bragta takes credit

Former Horticulture Minister and BJP vice-president Narinder Bragta today took credit for the declaration of the Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru as the national highway and in-principal approval to the Mendli-Tikkar-Baghi-Narkanda as another national highway. The announcement was made by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda here.

The UPA government and earlier governments could not made a proper road to the major apple belt of the state even after 50 years, claimed Bragta. But the Central Government did it in a few months, he said while addressing mediapersons here. Bragta said had led a delegation to the Union Minister for Surface Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari and then Nadda made the formal announcement.


Source: Tribune

Read Related:NH status for three roads in state

NH status for three roads in state

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda made this announcement after holding talks with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.
Nadda said the Centre had already granted five national highways with a length of 630 km for Himachal. He said the three national highways would improve road network.
The Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road is the lifeline for apple growers in upper Shimla. This road with a length of 80 km will be extended and connected to Tikkar-Baggi-Narkanda. The second road to be granted the national highway status is the 60 km Una-Basoli-Badsar-Bhota road. The third road is the 75 km Kumarhatti-Sarahan-Banethi-Nahan road.
Nadda announced that Rs 3,008 crore had been approved for the 90-km Parwanoo-Shimla four-lane project. Similarly, Rs 1,818 crore approved for the road from Kiratpur to Ner Chowk while the proposal for Kullu-Manali road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 4,400 crore had also been given nod, he said.
He said the three industrial corridors would be from Bilaspur in Haryana to Kala Amb in Sirmour district, Shalaghat-Ramshahar and the Nalagarh-Khajurna-Kala Amb corridor.
“After the deliberations held, it has also been decided to allocate Rs 40 crore for improving the condition of the Kiratpur-Manali national highway, considering the importance of this road and it will be fourlaned up to Kullu,” he said.
He said efforts would be made to hold frequent meetings to expedite approvals. He said the Chamunda-Holi tunnel project would be considered. “I have asked the HP Government to submit a proposal for strengthening the roads along the borders as strengthening of infrastructure along these areas is the priority of the Centre,” he said.

Gift for the hill state

• The 80-km Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road will be extended and connected to Tikkar-Baggi-Narkanda
• The second road is the Una-Basoli-Badsar-Bhota road
• The third is the Kumarhatti-Sarahan-Banethi-Nahan road
• Besides Rs 3,008 crore has been approved for the 90-km Parwanoo-Shimla four-lane project
• Rs 1,818 crore approved for Kiratpur to Ner Chowk

Three industrial corridors

• Bilaspur in Haryana to Kala Amb in Sirmour district
• Shalaghat-Ramshaha
• Nalagarh-Khajurna-Kala Amb

More bodies back protest call on April 17

Apple farmers, ex-servicemen, traders, shopkeepers, transporters and public have joined hands to stage a protest march at Hatkoti and then march from Rohru Sabji Mandi to the Sub-divisional office Rohru tomake the PWD and its contractor Chadha and Chadha Construction aware of the miseries of commuters on the 90-km Theog-Kotkhai- Hatkoti-Rohru road.

“It is the cause and public should join the protest as both government and contractor are sleeping while condition of the road has gone from bad to worse over the years”, said Brig Dr Daleep S Chhajta (retd). The Himalayan Apple Growers Society (HAGS) has given a call for protest.

“Whether it is the BJP leader Narinder Bragta or Congress legislator Rohit Thakur, they play politics over the issue and blame each other, but HAGS should not make it political”, he remarked. The working committee of the society met today at Hatkoti to review the arrangements for the peaceful protest.

“The society welcomes the support pledged by various sections of society, including transport unions and Beopar mandals of Jubbal, Rohru and Saraswatinagar,” said Vineet Sarjolta, secretary, HAGS. The dharna would be peaceful at Hatkoti and then march from Rohru Sabji Mandi to the SDM office where they would submit a memorandum to the government, he added.

Source:Tribune News Service

BJP welcomes HC order

The state BJP has welcomed the orders passed by the High Court to monitor the report on the progress of ongoing construction work on the Theog-Hatkoti road on a fortnightly basis.
Former BJP minister Narinder Bragata, who had launched an agitation and also filed a PIL for the early completion of the road, said the committee constituted by the BJP to review the progress of work would soon submit its report which would be sent to the Governor and the World Bank, funding the project.

He said if the pressure of people and intervention of High Court helps in speeding up the work, the BJP would be obliged to the High Court.

Source: Tribune India

Himachal HC seeks report on World Bank-funded road project

Shimla, March 23 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed a committee constituted by it to file a status report within a fortnight over the delay in the construction of a World Bank-funded road project in a prominent apple belt in Shimla. The court directed that the first milestone of the 80-km Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohru stretch should be achieves within the time-frame and cautioned that any dereliction or violation by any official or the contractor, including breach of the contract, shall amount to contempt of court.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a public interest litigation on delay in construction of the road. The bench had earlier constituted a committee, comprising the chief secretary, the principal secretary (public works) and the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department to monitor the progress of work. The government on Monday prayed for four weeks' time to show the results, saying the work was hampered due to inclement weather. Amicus curiae Jyotsna Rewal Dua informed the court that the milestones have not been achieved, rather these were changed due to bad weather.
Countering the affidavit of the government, advocate Devider Chauhan said the total length of the project was 80.6 km, which has been divided into two sections. The first milestone of 0-20 km of the first part of the project, and 48-58 km of the second part of the project are to be completed by June 2015. The court listed the matter for next hearing on April 27.

Source: IANS

BJP forms panel to review progress

Narinder Bragta, vice-president of Himachal BJP, who spearheaded the agitation for the early completion of widening of the 80-km Theog-Hatkoti road, today constituted an action committee to review the progress of the project.
Ravinder Chauhan, spokesman for the action committee,said the committee, comprising presidents and office-bearers of BJP Mandals of Shimla district, would give its report within 15 days and the same would be submitted to the Governor and the High Court.
Balbir Thakur, vice-president, state Kisan Morcha, would be the convenor of the committee. It would seek help of experts to prepare a detailed report with suggestions to speed up the work, he added.
The crucial road in the apple belt had been the bone of contention between the Congress and the BJP and both the parties had tried to draw political mileage from the project during the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Theog Hatkoti Rohru road closed

Theog Hatkoti Rohru road is closed for the traffic due to landslides at various places. There were landslides and shooting stones, triggered by heavy rains, between Gumma, Kotkhai, Kharapather and Sanaba.

Some latest pictures:

Theog-Hatkoti road: Company promises to meet June deadline

The work on the Theog-Hatkoti road project, already running behind schedule, will go full steam from March and working plan will be prepared to complete the work on a milestone basis.

Rajbir Singh, project director of C&C Constructions Company, Gurgaon, which was allotted the work after a Chinese company’s contract was cancelled, has promised the World Bank team that another team will be deployed on the site to speed up the work. All machinery will be in place to meet the revised deadline of June 2016, he said.

A World Bank team, headed by team task leader Mesfin WG Geo, visited the site along with CEO-cum-project director of the company Rajbir Singh and supervision consultant Andrew Vogal, appreciated the progress of the work after his last visit, but directed the contractor to prepare a working plan for achieving the target on a milestone basis, said Engineering-in-Chief, Public Works Department, Naresh Sharma.

Mesfin also directed the contractor that the machinery required for carrying out the bitumen work should be installed immediately. The company director promised to set up the hot-mixing plant in the first week of March.

The project director said the metalling work would begin by March 15 and one more team with its headquarters at Khara Patthar would be deployed at the site from March.

Work on this busy road in the heart of the apple belt is only possible for four months in a year due to heavy snowfall, rain and landslides. The work is also stalled during the apple season due to heavy traffic.

Only 20 per cent work of the 80-km road was completed when the Chinese company left the work. Only 7 per cent of the work has been completed after the contract was awarded to the C&C Construction Company in October 2013. The project cost has escalated from Rs 228 crore to Rs 321 crore.

The revised cost of the 48-km stretch from Theog to Khara Patthar has been estimated at Rs 179 crore, while the 32-km stretch from Khara Patthar to Hatkoti would cost Rs 142 crore. The work on the project started in February 2008.

• Work to go full steam from next month

• A plan will be prepared to complete the work on a milestone basis

• Company to set up hot-mixing plant in first week of March

• Metalling work will begin by March 15

Source: Tribune News Service
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/theog-hatkoti-road-company-promises-to-meet-june-deadline/39521.html

HP BJP seeks Guv's intervention for expediting road work

Himachal Pradesh BJP which launched a six-day 'padyatra' in the state, today submitted a memorandum to Governor Urmilla Singh, seeking her intervention for expediting work on Rohru-Theog road. 

The 'padyatra' headed by former horticulture minister Narinder Bragata concluded at Sanjauli yesterday and BJP workers later presented the memorandum to the secretary to the Governor today. 

The memorandum urged the Governor to direct the state government to constitute a task for expediting the work and set a time limit for completion of the project. 

It also urged the Governor to ask the government to complete the metalling and tarring of the five-meter wide road on priority basis and complete the remaining works on routine basis. 

 

 

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Congress leader Rohit Thakur, who represents the Jubbal and Kotkhai assembly seat, has dubbed the 'padyatra' as "a political drama to divert the attention of the people from core issue of development".

Source: PTI