Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday directed all administrative secretaries to set clear targets and complete pending tasks so that people can benefit from development projects at the earliest.
Chairing a high-level meeting with all administrative secretaries, the Chief Minister said that the state government has been working from day one to ensure good governance and the welfare of citizens.
He added that the Chief Secretary would regularly review the progress of departmental projects.
Stating that the welfare of the state and its people was the top priority of the present government, Sukhu asked officials to work with dedication to implement plans and schemes on the ground and contribute towards making Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant state.
He instructed departments to expedite the expansion of Kangra airport and push forward various tourism-related projects. The government, he said, was giving priority to sectors such as health, education, rural economy, tourism, energy, food processing and data storage, while also encouraging investment in these areas.
Highlighting reforms in the health sector, the Chief Minister said that major initiatives were underway to ensure people get quality treatment closer to their homes. Facilities in all seven medical colleges of the state were being strengthened with modern equipment and advanced machines on the lines of AIIMS Delhi.
Sukhu also underlined the need to promote electric vehicles and create the required infrastructure. He directed that approval of Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Forest Conservation Act (FCA) cases be accelerated and called upon departments to focus on digitalization of their services.
Highlighting the importance of rural development, he said nearly 90 percent of the state’s population resides in villages. To strengthen the rural economy, the government has raised milk procurement prices to a historic high and fixed minimum support prices for naturally grown wheat, maize, barley, and turmeric. He stressed that natural farming could become a major source of income for farmers and directed the agriculture department to work with dedication in this direction.
Referring to the devastation caused by this year’s monsoon, similar to 2023, the Chief Minister said the government was making every effort within its limited resources to support affected families.
He directed the revenue department to prepare a detailed report of the losses at the earliest so that it could be submitted to the Central Government without delay.