Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Announces ₹10 Crore Industrial Area in Fatehpur, Unveils ₹153 Crore Development Projects
In a major push towards regional development and employment generation, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced the establishment of a 10 crore industrial area in Fatehpur, aiming to strengthen the local economy and create new job opportunities.
In a major push towards regional development and employment generation, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced the establishment of a 10 crore industrial area in Fatehpur, aiming to strengthen the local economy and create new job opportunities.
Addressing a large public gathering at Jakhbar in Kangra district, the Chief Minister rolled out multiple development initiatives, signaling a focused effort to uplift infrastructure and rural livelihoods in the region.
Focus on Infrastructure and Local Development
Among the key announcements, Sukhu sanctioned 50 lakh for the renovation of Wazir Ram Singh Stadium and extended 20,000 financial assistance to each Mahila Mandal, highlighting the government’s support for community-level organizations.
In a significant administrative move, he also confirmed that the Chief Engineer’s office of the Shah Canal project will be restored in Fatehpur, reversing its earlier relocation to Mandi.
Political Attack and Funding Claims
Taking a dig at the previous BJP-led government, Sukhu claimed that the earlier regime had received nearly 60,000 crore more from the Centre compared to the current administration. He alleged that despite receiving higher funds, resources were mismanaged, pointing out that buildings worth 1,000 crore remain unused.
Education and Healthcare Reforms
Highlighting reforms, the Chief Minister said the state has made notable progress in education. English-medium teaching has been introduced from Class 1, and 151 schools have been aligned with the CBSE pattern, improving Himachal’s education ranking from 21st in 2021 to 5th position.
He also assured that teachers for CBSE schools will be appointed by June 30, ensuring better implementation of reforms.
Boost to Rural Economy and Farmers
The government has taken several steps to strengthen the rural economy. Sukhu announced procurement rates of:
- 150 per kg for naturally grown turmeric
- 61 per litre for cow milk
- 71 per litre for buffalo milk
These measures aim to provide better income stability to farmers and dairy producers.
Support for Fishermen Community
In a move to support fishermen, the state government has:
- Fixed a minimum support price for fish
- Announced a 3,500 monthly honorarium during the monsoon fishing ban
- Reduced royalty on reservoir fish catch from 15% to 1%
₹153 Crore Projects and Major Infrastructure Boost
The Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for eight major projects worth 153.81 crore. Key highlights include:
- 103.65 crore bridge over the Beas River (800-meter span)
- 13.6 crore Adarsh Swasthya Sansthan in Fatehpur
- 3.14 crore development work at Fatehpur grain market
- Multiple road projects under NABARD
- 12.82 crore combined office building in Fatehpur
Additionally, Sukhu announced infrastructure upgrades in Jawalamukhi, including:
- Electrical division and sub-division offices
- 33-kV sub-station upgrade (₹4 crore)
- New sub-division at Dehriyan with ₹10 crore allocation
Push for Religious Tourism
Looking ahead, the Chief Minister revealed a 150 crore master plan to boost religious tourism in key pilgrimage sites like:
- Jawalamukhi
- Chintpurani
- Naina Devi