On the second day of the winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the entire issue of closure of stone crushers has been actively echoing in the proceedings of the House. During the question hour, the first question regarding stone crushers was asked by Vipin Singh Parmar, MLA from Sullah assembly constituency. Reconciliation MLA Vipin Singh Parmar said that why in the entire matter of closure of stone crushers, work is being done considering only three districts of Himachal Pradesh as important. Regarding stone crushers, Industries Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan, while replying, said that there has been huge loss in the revenue of Himachal Pradesh government around Beas and all its tributaries. Harshvardhan Chauhan also said that only normal procedures related to stone crushers are being done in three important districts.
Also, Industry Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan said that only three districts have always been considered important. An important decision of canceling about eighty stone crushers of Himachal Pradesh has been taken by the High Level Committee formed in relation to stone crushers by the Himachal Pradesh Government. All these canceled stone crushers were not being operated under the legal process. Eighty stone crushers have been found illegal in the investigation report by the High Level Committee. As per the guidelines of the High Power Committee, some crushers have been allowed to operate. When all other stone crushers complete the legal procedures, guidelines for re-operation of all those stone crushers will be issued by the High Power Committee. In the High Power Committee report, most of the problems have been found in captive crushers, all the captive crushers were being operated under some project.
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To stop the continuous shortage of stone crushers, a meeting has been organized by the Government of Himachal Pradesh with the High Power Committee. The Himachal Pradesh government has not suffered any loss in revenue due to the closure of stone crushers. In the financial year 2022-2023, a revenue of Rs 242 crore was earned by the Himachal Pradesh government. In the year 2023, on 15th December 2023, Himachal Pradesh government has received a revenue of Rs 204 crore. The revenue of the year 2023 will be more than last year.
Apart from this, through a question, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Bikram Singh said in the House that till now one hundred and twelve stone crushers instead of eighty have been closed by the Himachal Pradesh government, terming them completely illegal. Due to the closure of 112 stone crushers, the current prices of sand and gravel in Himachal Pradesh have increased three times. Also, due to the closure of one hundred and twelve stone crushers, many people have become completely unemployed. Himachal Pradesh government can see only Kangra and its surrounding areas. Why stone crushers are not being closed in Solan district and Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Also, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Bikram Singh said that it is not completely correct for Industries Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan to say that there has been no loss in the revenue of Himachal Pradesh government due to the closure of stone crushers.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the reply of Industries Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, all the MLAs of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party have started shouting slogans in the House. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party started walking out of the House, accusing the Himachal Pradesh government of being a dictator.
Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the Himachal Pradesh government is working as per all the rules and laws. One hundred and twenty-eight stone crushers were carrying out illegal excavation in the Beas basin. The stone crushers were closed when the Beas river caused complete destruction due to natural disaster. According to the notification issued by the Himachal Pradesh government, stone crushers are allowed to operate only till 15th September. The most important requirement for opening stone crushers is to fulfill all the rules. Himachal Pradesh Government is also fully discussing this matter with the High Power Committee. Himachal Pradesh Government has continuously deliberated on fixing the rate of gravel as per the cost of production, so that the people of Himachal Pradesh do not face any kind of problems while purchasing gravel.
The mining plan in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh was made in a different way. Due to which Himachal Pradesh Government has not been able to receive the royalty amount from Kangra district. Due to which the High Power Committee of Himachal Pradesh Government has started the investigation process on non-receipt of royalty amount. Himachal Pradesh government should receive royalty amount of Rs 500 crore from mining in the year 2023. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that no wrong will be done to anyone, but action will be taken against all mining mafias who are found carrying out illegal mining against the rules and regulations.
During the Question Hour of Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Vinod Sultanpuri, MLA from Kasauli Assembly constituency, asked whether the Himachal Pradesh government is going to take an important decision to make provision for pension benefits after retirement for all APMC employees. Responding to the question of Kasauli MLA Vinod Sultanpuri, Agriculture Minister of Himachal Pradesh Government, Chandra Kumar said that the entire issue of APMC employees is currently under consideration at the higher level of Himachal Pradesh Government.
Sanjay Ratan, MLA from Jwalamukhi Assembly Constituency, while questioning said, when will the Public Works Department Division be started by Himachal Pradesh PWD Department in Jwalamukhi Assembly Constituency. Answering the question of Jwalamukhi MLA Sanjay Ratan, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that under whatever budget is coming for the new year, opening of Public Works Department division in Jwalamukhi assembly constituency will be considered. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Government’s Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh had said that keeping in mind the working capabilities of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department, a decision is going to be taken as soon as possible regarding opening a division of the Public Works Department in the Jwalamukhi assembly constituency.
Answering the question of Chamba district MLA Neeraj Nayyar, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that an amount of Rs 205 crore has been provided to Chamba Medical College and Hospital by the Himachal Pradesh government. Besides, development work can also be done by making the entire matter of construction of road for additional vehicles on the Chamba-Tissa main road for Chamba Medical College a priority of the MLA.
Answering the question of Inder Singh Gandhi, MLA from Balh assembly constituency, Revenue Minister of Himachal Pradesh Government, Jagat Singh Negi said that if compensation amount has been provided to any person, then the list of those persons should be provided, after that the entire matter will be discussed. But the investigation process will be started. Action will be taken to rectify the entire matter. Any person who is being discriminated against regarding the release of disaster relief funds is not right. Inder Singh Gandhi, MLA from Balh assembly constituency, had accused the Himachal Pradesh government of discriminatory allocation of disaster relief funds in the House. Opposition BJP MLAs had walked out of the House, but Inder Singh Gandhi, MLA from Balh Assembly constituency, was the only MLA who came inside the House to ask questions. But after hearing the reply, Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi also went out of the House.
Responding to the question of Chandrashekhar, MLA from Dharampur assembly constituency, Himachal Pradesh Government’s Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that a meeting will soon be organized in Hamirpur district with MLA Rajendra Rana, Suresh Kumar as well as Chandrashekhar. Apart from this, taking strict cognizance of all the contractors in the districts where complaints of negligence by the contractors in the development works of the Public Works Department of the Himachal Pradesh Government are coming to light, the tenders of all those contractors will be cancelled.
The matter of negligence in the entire central development work will also be raised before Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Himachal Pradesh has also suffered huge losses due to the natural disaster. PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that the type of retaining wall that should have been installed has not been installed yet.
Chandrashekhar, MLA from Dharampur assembly constituency, said that a question was also raised on the second package of Hamirpur-Mandi-via Dharampur National Highway No-3. Besides, Chandrashekhar, MLA from Dharampur assembly constituency, also raised questions on the quality of the construction work of Hamirpur-Mandi-via Dharampur National Highway No-3.
When Chaitanya Sharma, MLA from Gagret assembly constituency, also raised the question of filling the vacancies in pre-primary schools, then while replying, Himachal Pradesh Government’s Education Minister Rohit Thakur said that there are pre-primary schools in more than six thousand primary schools. In the coming days, NTT (Nursery Teacher Training) teachers will be appointed wherever there are more than ten pre-primary schools.
Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that there is continuous talk of giving Rs 633 crore by the Modi government at the Centre. Information about the Memorandum of Loss of Rs 9900 crore was provided by the Government of Himachal Pradesh to the Central Government of India. Under the rules of the Central Government, an amount of at least Rs 1605 crore should have been released by the Modi Government. But even out of the amount of Rs 1605 crore, Rs 216 crore had already been provided. Recently, central funds of Rs 397 crore have been provided to the Himachal Pradesh government. The amount of Rs 397 crore provided by the Modi government at the Center is only 6.40 percent of the total loss suffered by Himachal Pradesh due to the natural disaster. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that this has been done by the Bharatiya Janata Party for Himachal Pradesh. The people of Himachal Pradesh understand how much work is being done to cheat people and how much is being told to the people. No special package of any kind can be expected from the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
CM Sukhu said that when the Bharatiya Janata Party MPs elected from Himachal Pradesh go to Delhi, they are scared even of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. CM Sukhu said that he himself is going to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the last week of this month. The issue of the interests of Himachal Pradesh is going to be raised again after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. CM Sukhu said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs still want, they can talk to me for meeting in Delhi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Whatever loss the people of Himachal Pradesh have suffered due to natural disaster, the Himachal Pradesh government will help all the disaster affected people by raising an amount of one rupee each.
Responding to CM Sukhu’s remarks, BJP leader of opposition Jairam Thakur said that if we look at the central amount, it is the biggest amount for Himachal Pradesh. It has already been made clear by the Central Government that no further disaster relief amount will be released. Jai Ram Thakur said that CM Sukhu should present his views in the right manner to the Central Government. Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur said that clapping is always done with both hands. ‘Vikasit Bharat Yatra’ has been started by Bharatiya Janata Party, due to which Himachal Pradesh will come in the category of developed states in India in the upcoming time.
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur said that the Sukhu government is acting with a sense of revenge. The beneficial schemes of the Narendra Modi government at the Center are being stopped. Despite receiving help from the Central Government, no development work has been done yet. It is not right to talk like this. There is upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Due to which Sukhu government is doing this. The Sukhu government used to accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party government of taking loans. Now the Sukhu government has taken a loan of more than twelve thousand crore rupees.
Responding to Jairam Thakur’s statement, CM Sukhu said that only Rs 340 crore has been received from the Central Government. Jairam Thakur ji, come with me to Delhi. CM Sukhu said that Jairam Thakur ji, whenever you get time, I will be ready to go to Delhi with you at that time. CM Sukhu said that Jairam Thakur ji, take out the pen and write down the time for me. CM Sukhu said that our government has not taken any kind of loan of twelve thousand crore rupees in the year 2023-24.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Nayana Devi Assembly Constituency Randhir Sharma had presented the entire issue of death of a team mate due to electric shock while working in HT line in Reckong Peo through a calling attention motion in the proceedings of the House. Responding on this matter, Chief Minister Sukvinder Singh Sukhu said that the investigation process of the entire matter will be started. CM Sukhu said by whom the team was deployed for the work of HT line. CM Sukhu said that the action process will be started against all these officers. CM Sukhu said that the entire work was being done during a planned shut-down.
Nayana Assembly MLA Randhir Sharma told that suddenly a young man named Ajay Kumar started falling downwards. After that Ajay Kumar was brought down from the pole. An FIR has been lodged under Reckong Peo police station regarding the entire incident. Another died after induction through HT line. After the entire incident, a high level committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Superintending Engineer. If any officer is found guilty in the report of the High Level Committee, then strict action will be taken against the said officer. There is a instant need to make the rules related to the entire matter in the same manner. Nayana Devi MLA Randhir Sharma told that the deceased Ajay Kumar was not married. Deceased is the younger brother of Ajay Kumar and what compassionate job will he be provided by Himachal Pradesh Government because the parents of deceased Ajay Kumar are extremely poor.
Responding on this matter, CM Sukhu said that whatever can be done under the rules, will be done by the Himachal Pradesh government. A bill to amend the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development and Registration Act 2002 was also introduced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. After amendment, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development and Registration Act 2002 will be passed in the coming days.
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