Fina Singh Irrigation Project to Be Completed Soon as Centre Releases Rs 60.26 Crore: Mukesh Agnihotri

Dharamshala, August 9: Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has said that the ambitious Fina Singh Multipurpose Irrigation Project in Kangra district will be completed soon following the release of Rs 60.26 crore by the Central Government. The project, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 643 crore, has remained pending for a long time.

Addressing a programme in Dharamshala, Agnihotri said the release of the funds was the result of sustained efforts and decisive meetings with the Central Government. He said the state government had already spent around Rs 300 crore from its own resources on the project. The additional central assistance would accelerate construction and help complete the project at the earliest.

The Deputy Chief Minister said Kangra district was steadily progressing on the development front and that the state government was working with a long-term vision to strengthen the district’s economy. He said the state’s largest airport was being developed in Kangra, with the state government having already spent around Rs 4,000 crore on the project. Once completed, the airport would provide a major boost to tourism in the region.

He said a zoo was also being developed in Kangra to attract more tourists, while the district was set to get the state’s largest milk processing plant. These projects, he said, would create new opportunities for employment, tourism and economic growth.

Agnihotri also stressed the need for transparency in recruitment examinations, saying paper leaks had become a matter of concern across the country. He said the future of hardworking young people should not be compromised and that the youth needed employment and development rather than divisive political issues. Referring to the police recruitment paper leak during the previous government, he said recruitment processes must be conducted in a transparent and credible manner.

He further said that the notification for an increase of Rs 1,000 in the honorarium of ASHA workers would be issued soon in accordance with the state Budget announcement. The Cabinet had already taken a decision in this regard. He appreciated the contribution of ASHA workers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and said programmes to honour their services would also be taken forward.

The Deputy Chief Minister also called for dignity and restraint in political discourse. He said politics should remain focused on development and public welfare and that political leaders should maintain decorum while putting forward their views.

Agnihotri said the state government was committed to advancing development and welfare-oriented policies. He urged people to assess governments on the basis of development works and welfare initiatives being implemented for the benefit of the public.

Samagra Sikhsha