SHIMLA: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government had to take loan of Rs 6000 Crore to meet out the debt liabilities taken by the previous Jai Ram Thakur government in Himachal Pradesh.
Launching an attack against the previous BJP government, he said that every person in the State is reeling under a debt of Rs 92,840 due to the financial mismanagement of the previous government.
The BJP government has plunged the State into a period of economic misery, he charged.
Addressing a public gathering at Baddi he said that the situation is so bad that it was difficult to meet out the government's expenses.
The present government had to take a loan of Rs. 6000 crore to repay the liabilities taken by the previous government. He said that after becoming Chief Minister of the State he was making concerted efforts to bring the economy of the State on track by taking various prudent financial decisions.
The Chief Minister said that the present government was working on resource mobilization, so that funds could be made available for undertaking various public welfare schemes.
He said that water cess has been imposed on hydropower projects of Himachal Pradesh which will go a long way in improving the fiscal health of the State.
He said that the present State Government has auctioned liquor vends of the State due to which 40 percent increase in revenue has been recorded.
He said that the Government has started Mukhyamantri Sukhashray Yojna for 6000 orphan children of the State, to ensure the welfare of such children.
Under the scheme, the government will bear the entire expense of higher education for orphans.
Along with this, Rs. 4000 would be given as pocket money and the government will also bear the expenses of their exposure visit once a year.
He said that three biswas of land for building a house and financial assistance will also be given by the government to the orphans to build a house.
The Chief Minister said that a new investment policy was going to be brought to promote industries, which will benefit the industrialists as well as the people of the state.
He announced opening of the Block Medical Officer (BMO) office at Baddi and Patwar Circle at Jharmajri.
Besides, the Chief Minister announced opening of Sub Divisional Magistrate Office at Baddi in Solan district from 1st October this year to facilitate the people of the area.
He directed the concerned authorities to prepare the DPR of Baddi bus stand.
He said that the state government is making sincere efforts to tackle the drug menace and he had requested the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for enacting a strict law to combat this menace.
During the programme, Shivalik Co-operative Housing Society Jharmajri presented a cheque of Rs one lakh to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu towards the Chief Minister's Sukh Ashraya Kosh.
Earlier, Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones of five developmental projects worth Rs 22.30 crore in Doon assembly constituency.
Chief Minister inaugurated Rs. 5.16 crore bridge over Gamber khad on Baniya Devi-Bughar road at Bughar which will prove a boon for the people of Arki, Doon and Kasauli assembly segments.
He also inaugurated the Women Police Station at Kalyanpur in Baddi area constructed at a cost of Rs 3.33 crore which is a significant step towards women's safety in the area.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu performed foundation stone laying ceremonies of Rs. 11.44 crore 180 meters long double lane bridge over Sirsa khad on link road Haripur to Chunari, Rs. 1.50 crore cycle track on Sun-city Road in Baddi and Rs. 87 lakh Office-cum-Residence building of Assistant Engineer, PWD Department.
