Merger of HLP, BJP won’t affect Cong, says Virbhadra

Our Correspondent

Kullu, June 26

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said today that the merger of the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) with the BJP would not have any impact on the Congress in the Assembly elections to be held next year.

He stated this during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a drinking water augmentation scheme at Talara village in the Sainj valley of the district. He said the scheme was being developed at a cost of Rs 1.12 crore and residents of Talara, Sachani and Bhallan panchayats would be benefitted from the scheme. He also inaugurated a motorable bridge completed with an outlay of Rs 1.50 crore on the Sainj rivulet for Talara village.

While addressing mediapersons, he said the leaders of the opposition must be astrologers to predict early elections. Replying to a query regarding government taking over the upkeep of the Raghunath Temple at Kullu, he said the government only provided better management for the temples. He said to check stray cattle menace, a policy would be framed soon to penalise those who abandoned their cattle.

The Chief Minister said the government had started Gauvansh Samvardhan Board to protect stray cattle and Rs 10 crore would be spent to develop gaushalas for stray cattle in the entire state.

Addressing a public gathering at Sainj village after laying the foundation of Banjar sewerage scheme to be built at a cost of Rs 5.16 crore, the CM said the tendering process for the scheme was at final stage. He said Rs 98 lakh had been sanctioned for providing electricity to Shakti and Marod villages of the Gadaparali panchayat. He announced the opening of veterinary dispensary at Ruwad and upgrading primary school at Jia to middle school.

He said the government was considering starting science classes in all senior secondary schools in a phased manner. He claimed that 1,004 new schools had been launched or upgraded and 29 new degree colleges had been opened in rural areas of the state during last three years of the Congress regime.

He said more than 135 health institutions had been opened or upgraded in the state during this period and more than 610 posts of doctors and specialists had been filled. He laid the foundation stones of an Industrial Training Institute, Government Degree College, and a science block at Government Senior Secondary School, Sainj.