HP CM Urges Distinct Norms for Hilly States under AMRUT Scheme to Accelerate Development Works.
Shimla:
Chief Minister’s Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh emphasized the need for tailored guidelines under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transport (AMRUT) Scheme to better suit the unique challenges posed by hilly terrains. In a meeting with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal held at Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh, the Chief Minister highlighted that the current population-based criteria for project sanctioning were inadequate for Himachal Pradesh. He proposed relaxing these criteria to ensure maximum benefit under the scheme.
Chief Minister Sukhu also pressed for a review of the recommendations by the 15th Finance Commission, citing the escalating costs of projects over time. Himachal Pradesh, he noted, has been a top performer under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY), seeking timely release of funds under PMAY-2 after exhausting PMAY-1 allocations.
Accelerating Development Pace:
One of the key proposals put forth by Chief Minister Sukhu was to amend the tender policy, reducing the period from the current 60 days to just 10 days. This adjustment, he argued, would significantly expedite the pace of development works across the state. Emphasizing the importance of effective system monitoring, he urged a focused approach in this regard.
Addressing the challenges faced by border areas like Spiti due to adverse weather conditions, the Chief Minister advocated for the installation of one MW capacity solar systems with battery backups. A budget of Rs. 362 crore has been allocated to ensure uninterrupted power supply in these regions.
Enhancing Cleanliness Efforts:
In efforts to further improve cleanliness standards, the Chief Minister proposed declaring clean cities in Himachal Pradesh as “Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehar,” potentially unlocking additional central government funding for cleanliness initiatives.
Union Minister’s Assurance:
Union Minister Manohar Lal praised Himachal Pradesh’s performance and assured full support from the central government. He disclosed that a proposal to develop a new township near Shimla at Jathia Devi was under consideration. Additionally, he suggested establishing solid waste management plants in municipal corporations, given the feasibility constraints of large-scale projects in a small state like Himachal Pradesh.
Future Directions:
Looking ahead, the Union Minister recommended that the state explore opportunities to increase power production, leveraging the abundant running water resources to harness hydroelectric power more efficiently. He also suggested exploring the concept of “Sanjha Bazar” to facilitate Self Help Groups in marketing their products collectively.
The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Additional Secretary of MoHUA Satinder Pal Singh, Director of AMRUT Gurjeet Singh Dhillon, Principal Secretary of Urban Development Devesh Kumar, Director Gopal Chand, and other senior officials from both the Ministry and the state government.
This collaborative effort between the state and central governments aims to streamline development processes and address specific challenges faced by Himachal Pradesh, ensuring inclusive and sustainable urban growth across the hilly region.
