MANDI: After inaugurating various development projects worth about Rs. 2.25 crore for Drang area addressing a largely attended public meeting at Sayol near Pandoh of Drang Assembly Constituency in district Mandi, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced opening of Government Degree College at Pandoh (Sayol).

Pandoh is the center of 25 panchayats of four assembly constituencies viz. Drang, Seraj, Nachan and Sadar Mandi.

With the opening of the college, about 36 thousand people in general and particularly about 2 thousand students of 15 Government Senior Secondary Schools located in these panchayats would be benefited.

The Chief Minister announced to upgrade police post Pandoh to police station. He also announced Rs. 10 lakh each for the repair of the bridge connecting Nau Meel-Badar and construction and expansion of Thatta-Parashar road.

He announced Rs. 5 lakh each for the construction and extension of Deori to Bandal road and Neyul-Binaul road. The Chief Minister assured to prepare an estimate for the construction of a sports ground in Government Senior Secondary School, Shivabadar and to provide adequate funds accordingly.

He asked the officers to prepare an estimate for the construction of the building of ITI Shivabadar. He directed the officers of Jal Shakti Department to conduct a survey regarding the construction of new LWS which would cater the drinking water problem of 7 panchayats of Badar area.

He also asked the officers of the Public Works Department to prepare an estimate for the improvement work of the black spots near Pandoh Bridge.

Jai Ram Thakur directed to submit the feasibility report on the demand of opening Junior Engineer (JE) section of Public Works at Balh-Tikkar of Chauhar valley.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated Lift Irrigation Scheme Nagwain (development work of the chalk area of Gram Panchayat Nagwain) constructed with a cost of Rs 1.15 crore. This scheme would provide a better irrigation facility for 100 hectares of cultivable land in the area.

He inaugurated the housing complex for doctors of Primary Health Center Shivabadar constructed with about Rs.80 lakhs and Government Senior Secondary School Shiva Building constructed with about Rs. 20 lakh.

Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has worked with the aim of all round development of each and every area of the State.

He said that in the last four and a half years, new dimensions of progress have been established in the Drang area. Under Mukhyamantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna about 8 thousand women of the area have been benefited. He said that more than 4700 new cases of social security pension have been approved in Drang assembly constituency. About 10 thousand 186 farmers are getting benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, he added.

Chief Minister said that Rs. 25 crore have been spent on the improvement of Ghatasani-Barot road and Rs. 7 crore on strengthening of Katindi-Kashla road. He said that Rs. 16.30 crore Panjori Nala drinking water scheme has been dedicated to the people of the area.

The Divisional Office of the Public Works Department has been opened at Thalot. With many such public welfare steps, work has been done to bring happiness in the lives of the people of Drang Assembly Constituency.

Jai Ram Thakur said that there has been a lot of turmoil in the Congress party across the country. There is an uncertainty among the leaders and many popular leaders are leaving the Congress, because they feel that their hard work of the past many years was of no value in today's Congress.

He chuckled and said that many Congressmen are narrating their woes to him. It is said that there was a rule of mother and son in Delhi in Congress, now the same situation was prevailing in the state as well.

Jai Ram Thakur said that in the state, the Congress party has made four working presidents, although they have no power in their name. The Chief Minister said that many Congress leaders are under the illusion that their 'turn' would come in Himachal.

The assembly elections held in different states of the country have proved that the custom of this turn has now been changed. With this changed custom, in Himachal as well BJP would again form the government in the assembly elections to be held later this year, he added.

MLA Drang Jawahar Thakur while expressing his gratitude for various developmental projects said that today Drang Assembly Constituency was second to none in development with the blessings of the Chief Minister.

Road connectivity, electricity, water supply, infrastructural development of schools and health institutions has been ensured in the area.