Jai Ram Thakur inaugurates 33 KV power sub-station worth Rs. 3.34 crore and bridge over Tirthan Khud of Rs. 4.40 crore at Balkichowki in district Mandi

Mandi : Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today inaugurated a motorable bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 4.40 crore on Tirthan Khud and 33 KV power sub-station worth Rs. 3.34 crore under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna at Balichowki in District Mandi. Later, he also presided over the closing ceremony of Youth Sports Competitions organized on the occasion of Seraj Utsav.While addressing the mammoth public meeting Chief Minister announced opening of Oak Tusar Silk Division at Balichowki for District Kullu, Mandi and Lahaul-Spiti. He announced opening of primary school at village Bhalyari in Gram Panchayat Khani, Health Sub Center at Dhawehad, opening of veterinary dispensary at Gram Panchyat Kanda, Health Sub Center at Katbanu, Health Sub Center at Sudharani and upgradation of Primary School Dagaihal to Middle School. He also announced Rs 30 lakh each for sports grounds at Deodhar and Aligarh.

Jai Ram Thakur said that people of both Banjar and Seraj Assembly Constituencies have benefited from the construction of this bridge over Tirthan Khud and has full filled the long pending demand of the people of the area. He said that with the construction of the bridge, vegetable growers of the area would now be able to transport their produce to the vegetable market. He said that with construction of roads and bridges the people of general and far flung areas were being provided with better connectivity facility. As a result of which rural areas have been mainstreamed with development. The expansion of road network has also strengthened education and health facilities in remote areas.The Chief Minister said that 595 km of roads have been constructed under Bali Chowki sub-division benefitting the people of 50 Gram Panchayats.He said that the with the expenditure of Rs. 2582 lakh, Thalot, Panjain-Thachi road and with the expenditure of Rs. 5070 lakh the work of upgradation and widening of Kalhani to Pandoh road would soon be completed.

He said that besides these, Rs.1460 lakh bridge over Beas river at Thalot, work of widening and up-gradation of Thachi to Lambathach road at a cost of Rs. 7570 lakh was under progress. He informed that the people of the area have benefited with completion of Khuhan to Deeder road of Rs. 317 lakh, Bhakhali to Kholanal road of Rs. 977 lakh, Thach to Kasaur road of Rs. 543 lakh and Kholanal to Koon road of Rs 262 lakh. While the construction of Bonchhari to Kanda road at a cost of Rs. 593 lakh and Basan to Somgad road of Rs 1043 lakh was under progress. Besides these, three bridges with an expenditure of 2979 lakhs were under construction in the area. The construction work of building of Community Health Center Balichowki, Primary Health Center Kalani and Thatta with and expendinture of Rs. 2323 lakh was under progress and the work of Primary Health Center Balichowki and Panjai has been completed. While the construction work of Mini Secretariat building at Balichowki at a cost of Rs. 1720 lakhs was under progress.

He said that with the construction of power station as many as 30 thousand people of seven Gram Panchayats Gopalpur, Mangalore, Thatbeed, Chanaun, Kotla, Larji and Chhakurta will be benefitted. This would ensure proper power supply and the problem of voltage will also be resolved in the area.Chief Minister said that Seraj Youth Sports and Cultural Festival was a vital event in providing platform to 14 thousand participants of Seraj.He said that sports help in overall development of a person and inculcates self-confidence, sense of responsibility and mutual coordination in a person. He said that in view of the present lifestyle, it is necessary to give importance to sports so that stress-free life and social society can be established along with staying away from bad habits like drug addiction. He urged the youth to stay away from drugs and from drug addiction and to harness their potential in the field of sports.

Chief Minister also transferred an amount of Rs. 1743 lakh to the accounts of the beneficiaries of various schemes of Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Board. Under this financial assistance of Rs. 365 lakhs was provided for marriage, Rs. 1134 lakhs for education, Rs. 19 lakhs for medical, Rs. 38 lakhs for maternity and paternity benefits.He distributed prizes worth Rs. 30 lakh to the winners of sports competitions under the Seraj Youth and Cultural Fesitval.MLAs Surendra Shourie and Jawahar Thakur, Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Rakesh Sharma, Chairman Panchayat Samiti Bali Chowki Sher Singh, President of BJP Seraj Mandal Bhagirath Sharma and Seraj Youth Sports and Cultural Festival President Rishabh Sharma also spoke on this occasion.Chairperson State Red Cross Society, Hospital Welfare Section Dr. Sadhna Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Mandi Arindam Chaudhary, Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri, Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Ghanshyam Chand, officers of various departments were also present on this occasion.