Himachal Okays Eight Vocational Universities in Solan district
Solan: Eight vocational universities would be established in private participation, Rs. 668 crore proposed under SC Component Plan for next financial year 2009-10, Kasauli and Dagshai Water Supply Schemes to be augmented with Giri Water Supply Scheme and additional water to be made available to Parwanoo Waster Supply Scheme.
This was stated by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister while addressing a mammoth public meeting at Dharampur in district Solan after he laid foundation stone of an over-bridge in place of cover cut skew arch bridge at Dharampur railway yard on Dharampur-Subathu State highway estimated to cost Rs. 115.67 lakh and B.R. Ambedkar Bhawan estimated to cost Rs. 10 lakh at Dharampur today.
Prof. Dhumal said that Solan would be better known as the district of universities and most likely only one district in the country having a large number of higher learning institutions, especially universities in private sector. He said that ‘letter of intent’ had been granted to eight vocational universities and more such higher educational institutions were likely to be set up in the district in the near future.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government has proposed Rs. 668 crore to be spent under Scheduled Caste Special Component Plan during next financial year, compared to Rs. 594 crore during current financial year and Rs. 231 crore during previous regime 2007-08. He said that on coming to power, the State Government had enhanced budgetary provision from 11 percent to 25 percent under SCCP in proportionate to the population of the community in the State, thereby ensuring speedy development of the SC concentrated villages.
Chief Minister said that State Government would explore possibilities to further augment the Giri Water Supply Scheme to meet the requirement of adequate water in Kasauli and Daghai areas of Solan district. He said that the Parwanoo residents would also be ensured adequate water supply by feeding the existing WSS from Kaushlaya river water so that there was no shortage of water in the area.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government had brought the tomato and potato crops under the fold of crop insurance provisions aimed at protecting the interests of the farmers, especially the vegetable growers of the State. He said that Solan district was leader in off season vegetable cultivation and source of inspiration to rest of the farming community which motivate the fellow farmers to go for diversified farming and get remunerative prices for their produce.
Chief Minister warned the people of the adverse impact of global warming which was likely to effect the hilly areas most. He advised the people to adopt water efficient techniques for their daily water use practice, farming and rain water harvesting etc. to save every drop of water so that the global warming impact was reduced considerably. He said that water was most precious commodity. He appealed to the people to protect environment and incorporate the same in all their activities.
Prof. Dhumal said that Solan district had the distinction of being the leader in setting up of 1st IT University in the country, Atal Shiksha Kunj at Kalu Jhanda and likely to have eight universities in single district. He said that it was record in itself that Kasauli assembly segment had maximum of educational institutions of par excellence.
Chief Minister said that Rs. 55 crore were being spent under B&R activities in Solan district during current financial year, 120 kms of new road to be constructed and Kasauli segment to get share of Rs. 8.23 crore during current financial year.
Kanwaljit Chauhan presented a draft of Rs. 1100 to Chief Minister towards the Chief Minister Relief fund.
Dr. Rajeev Bindal, Health Minister said that Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal has succeeded in getting sanctioned national level vocational institutions of par excellence from Govt. of India for the State. He said that in private participation ten new universities were being set up in different places all over the State in the near future, thereby giving added attention towards quality education in the State. He said that it was for the first time in the history of the State that daily wages were increased by Rs. 35 per day and social security pension by Rs. 130 in one year.
Dr. Bindal lambasted the UPA Government for not providing any flood relief to the State as the State suffered immense loss of crops to private and public property valued at about Rs. 2100 crore. He said that the State Government carried all repair, restoration, relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people.
