Govt, Oppn in war of words over Chamba cement plant

Tribune News Service
Shimla, February 6

The Vidhan Sabha today witnessed heated exchanges over the issue of setting up of the cement plant at Sikridhar in Chamba with the Opposition Congress accusing the BJP regime of raking up the issue each time there is an election around the corner.

The issue was raised during question hour in the Assembly by Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri. He pointed out that despite not even a single bid having been received after inviting tenders twice, the BJP was trying to get political mileage out of the issue with an eye on the parliamentary polls.

With Congress legislators locking horns with the Industry Minister Bikram Singh and doubting the intentions of his government, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said all that is required for the setting up of the plant, including construction of road, will be done as the coming up of the project will provide employment and herald economic prosperity in Chamba district.

He also took the Opposition to task for objecting to the statement of his government that road will be made. “I am a little surprised as well as perturbed when I see the Opposition object to every statement of ours. Do we need to take your permission before saying something or doing,” he quipped. He added that roads have been constructed even in the past and on private land so it is not something impossible that his government intends doing.

“The BJP wants to once again befool the people of Chamba by claiming that the foundation stone of the cement plant would be laid soon when the fact is that no firm has shown interest in taking it up,” he said. He added that now the government was even willing to make the 26-km road for the investor to reach right up to the deposit site. He accused the government of acting under pressure from one of its MPs, who had always made the promise of setting up the cement plant during every LS election. Congress MLA Asha Kumari too joined Agnihotri in doubting the intentions of the government and using the cement plant issue only as a poll gimmick. “Neither has any survey nor demarcation been done, the locals have not been taken into confidence as 70 per cent of land where road is to be made is private, so how can the government talk of laying foundation at such a preliminary stage when no spade work had been done,” she said.

Replying to the accusations Industry Minister Bikram Singh said the BJP regime was committed to set up the plant for which bids had been invited twice in August 2018 and January 2019. “The Additional Chief Secretary (Industry) had a meeting with potential investors like ACC, Reliance and Ultra Tech and they too pointed out that hurdles like construction of the road must be cleared,” the minister said.

Sukhwinder Sukhu also urged the government to incorporate in the agreement for the setting up of the plant a clause where cement would be sold at cheap rates to people of Himachal who give their land and suffer pollution.