Deputy Chief Minister Inaugurates and Lays Foundation Stones for Development Projects Worth ₹21.12 Crore
Chamba, August 13:
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for two major development projects worth ₹21.12 crore in the Dalhousie Assembly constituency of Chamba district.
During his one-day visit to Chamba, he laid the foundation stone for a ₹6.46 crore flood control project on the Banikhet Nala in the popular tourist town of Banikhet. Later, at the revered Shakti shrine of Mata Bhalei Temple, he inaugurated a newly constructed lift water supply scheme worth ₹15.66 crore.
Addressing a public gathering focused on resolving local issues, Agnihotri said the state government is committed to ensuring access to and expansion of basic facilities in even the most remote areas. He noted that projects related to drinking water, irrigation, drainage, and flood control are being completed within set timelines.
He informed that the new lift water supply scheme will benefit the drought-affected gram panchayats of Brangal, Bhalei, Vangal, Ohra, Simni, and Kanged. Once operational, it will provide around 1.3 million liters of clean drinking water daily to nearly 133 rural settlements across 30 villages. The Banikhet Nala flood control project will include the construction of approximately 815 meters of ICC channel, removal of stone-filling slips, and other structural works—safeguarding property worth about ₹13 crore in the Banikhet Municipal Council area and Dhalog Gram Panchayat.
Responding to a request from the Bhuru Nag Temple Management Committee, Agnihotri announced a grant of ₹10 lakh for the construction of a temple inn. He also assured that possibilities for installing a lift or ropeway at the Bhalei Mata Temple, to aid senior citizens and devotees, would be explored. The Deputy Chief Minister listened to public grievances and resolved most of them on the spot. Earlier, he offered prayers at the Bhuru Nag Temple in Banikhet and the Bhalei Mata Temple, wishing for the prosperity of the state’s people.
The event was attended by MLA D.S. Thakur, former ministers Asha Kumari and Thakur Singh Bharmouri, former senior Congress leader Kamal Thakur, Yashwant Khanna, Dharam Singh Pathania, Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repswal, SP Abhishek Yadav, Chief Engineer (Jal Shakti) Deepak Garg, SDM Anil Bhardwaj, Chanderveer Singh, Superintending Engineer (PWD) Diwakar Pathania, Rajesh Mogra, and other dignitaries from the area.
At a press conference in Banikhet, Agnihotri said that a proposal to open a divisional office of the Jal Shakti Department in Dalhousie is under consideration. He added that most of the work on the water supply scheme for Dalhousie has been completed, and the project is scheduled for inauguration by December this year. Regarding the Dalhousie bus stand, he said departmental formalities for construction are being finalized. He also shared that the detailed project report for a sewage system for Banikhet town has been prepared and sent for approval.
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