Hydro Power Engineering College to be started by union government to produce skilled manpower
BIJENDER SHARMA
Saturday, 24 January 2009

DHARMSHALA: 219 MW power would be generated on the Beas River waters by constructing two HEPs between Pandoh Dam in district Mandi to Dhaula Sidh in district Hamirpur thereby generating an additional income of Rs 300 crore per annum to the State exchequer on completion.
Hydro Power Engineering College to be started by Union Government Undertakings in power sector to produce skilled manpower in hydro power generation sector.

This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing a massive public meeting at Shahpur, in district Kangra on the 5th day of his week long visit to the district today, after he laid foundation stones of ambitious 6.6 MW Khauli Hydro Electric Power Project Phase-II at Rehlu, estimated to cost Rs. 57 crore; Lift Water Supply Scheme, Chhau Har Upper Dohab Hamera and adjoining villages estimated to cost Rs. 104.32 lakhs; Multipurpose Hall Hall of ITI, Shahpur, to cost Rs. 65 lakhs; Science Block of GSSS, Shahpur, estimated to cost Rs. 64 lakhs and dedicated Comunity Health Centre building completed at a cost of Rs. 1.25 crore to the peole of the area.

Dhumal said that Himachal Pradesh had emerged a role model state in protection of environment protection endeavours and the same were being appreciated 'Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna' by spending Rs. 80 crore and four CFL bulbs being distributed free of cost to every domestic consumer inn the state.He said that other environment protection activities were also being implemented.

Chief Minister said that 28,000 recruitments were being made during current financial year out of which about 11,000 had already been recruited and process was nearing completion for filling up of rest of the targetted vacancies. He said that the Government sector had remote scope for creation of jobs still the State Government had been working overtime explore possibilities of creating maximum job opportunities in the government sector while process to explore employment in private sector.

Prof. Dhumal said that concerted efforts were being made to strengthen the agriculture and horticulture sector by providing them maximum benefits and motivate them to opt for modern farming techniques which could fetch them remunerative returns besides generating employment and self employment avenues at their door steps. He said that progressive farmers were coming forward to adopt latest farming techniques and getting their economy strengthened. He said that Rs. 353 crore Pandit Deen Dayal Kisaan-Baagwan Samridhi Yojna had been launched for the farmers of the state from January this year and aimed at empowering farming community with vast potential of income generation. He said that agriculturists, orchardists and animal husbandry activities were being given boost which would ultimately result into strengthening the economy of the country. He said that the ambitious schemes would be delivering record 80 percent subsidy to the beneficiaries and they would be required to invest only 20 percent of the cost of poly houses and small sprinkler and drip irrigation schemes. He said that soon the state would be witnessing revolution in the farming sector.

Chief Minister said that on completion of 6.6 MW Khauli HEP Phase II in coming three years it would be capable to generate income of Rs. 11 crore to the State Electricity Board. He said that it would not only solve the power requirement problem of the area but also supply the same to neighbouring states. He sad that the State had targetted generation of 12,000 MW additional power by the year 2012. He said that the State Government was committed to harness to entire identified hydel potential so that the same could be utilized for meeting the developmental requirements. He said that at present the state was getting half of its income out of hydel power generation projects and in coming years the same would be increased manifold.

Prof. Dhumal falicitated the women folk on 'Balika Divas' and appealed to people not to discriminate between male and female child as both were equally important for the society. He said that there were many programmes aimed at increasing the women population. He said that the State Government had ensured three women constables in every police station to help womenfolk narrate their woes for obtaining justice by the law and order maintaining agencies. He also paid his floral tributes to late Netaji Subhash Chander Bose who had lead the nation to fight against foreign rulers tooth and nail. He said that Netaji would always remain a source of inspiration for the nation to protect the interest and national boundaries.

Chief Minister was also presented bank drafts of Rs. 5,100 by the staff of GSSS Shahpur; Rs. 5,100 by staff of GSSS Durgela; Rs. 5,100 HP Shikshak Sangh, Rs, 5,100 by Rait BJP; Rs. 1,100 by Smt Rajneesh Dhiman, Pradhan Gram Panchayat, Dohab and Rs. 1,100 by Smt. Rajni Thakur, Pradhan, Parbati Mahila Mandal, Jhular as contribution towards the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Prof. Dhumal announced upgradation of HMS Suhughat and Ghanoh to HIgh School, GPS Kutharna to GMS, sanctioned rs. 5 lakh for he boundary wall of the GSSS Shahpur and Rs. 10,000 to the educational institutions for promotion of cultural programmes

Chief Minister was given a warm welcome by the people of the area in large number at different points where they had erected welcome gates to welcome the Chief Minister to their area.

Sarveen Chaudhary, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister and local MLA, welcomed the Chief Minister to her home segment Shahpur and thanked him for laying foundation stone of developmental projects valued at tens of crores of rupees. She thanked him for bestowing her with the portfolio of Social Justice and Empowerment.She said that the budgetary provisions for social welfare sector had been enhanced to 24.72 percent of the total budgetary provisions of the State for current financial year. She said that uniformity in the housing subsidy had been brought forward under various poor section housing schemes and every selected family would be getting Rs. 38,500 under every such scheme. She thanked CM for enhancing the honorarium of the Aanganwari Workers and Helpers benefitting them financially substantially. She said that there was no backward and minority community left which had not been provided benefit under different programmes of the State Government.

Chaudhary thanked CM for enhancing the creamy layer limit to provide wider cover to various schemes aimed at their speedy socio-economic upliftment. She said that 50 percent reservation to women in PRI elections was a land mark decision to give womenfolk population proportionate representation in representing their areas and make them partner in the planned development of the area. She said that a number of women empowerment projects were under execution in the state. She thanked the Chief Minister for providing record funds for the development of her segment. She counted developmental milestones established in the area during past one year. She said that 17 WSS valued at Rs. 14 crore had been got sanctioned for different villages in Shahpur.

Dr. Rajan Sushant, MLA, Jwali and BJP Nominee for Kangra-Chamba Parliamentary seat, lauded the popular decisions taken by the State Government which had benefitted every section of the society. He said that Rs. 400 crore Shah Nehar Canal Project would benefit about 38,000 farmers of the area. He said that recently foundation stone of NIFT had been laid in the district which would be the only one of its kind in entire north India imparting world standard vocational education in fashion technology. He expressed concern over the discrimination being meted out to the ex-servicemen with regard to one rank one pension by the union government.

A variety cultural programme was presented to mark the gaiety of the function.Ravinder Ravi, IPH Minister, Kishan Kapoor, Transport Minister, Trilok Kapoor, Chairman, Woolfed, Des Raj Bagi, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Kangra, Rai Singh, President, Shahpur BJP Mandal, Madan Sharma, General Secretary, Shahpur BJP, Sanjay Sharma, Member, Press Advisory Committee, Ashwani Chaudhary, Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Shri Kamlesh Pant, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Dr. Atul Fulzele, Superintendant of Police, Dr. Sulakshna Puri, Director of Health Services, N.L.Sharma, Chief Engineer, PWD, M.S.Kanwar, Chief Engineer, IPH, other senior officers and prominent citizens of the area were present on the occasion.