Karsog MLA to strengthen road network to benefit apple growers

ldquoStrengthening of road infrastructure to enable apple growers to transport apples which is the main cash crop in my Assembly constituency is my main concernrdquo says Karsog MLA Hira Lal

Updated At : 06:22 AM Aug 18, 2018 IST

Karsog MLA Hira Lal (extreme left) at a public meeting. Photo: Jai Kumar

Dipender Manta

“Strengthening of road infrastructure to enable apple growers to transport apples, which is the main cash crop in my Assembly constituency, is my main concern,” says Karsog MLA Hira Lal.

Due to poor condition of roads in villages, owners of apple orchards of the region are facing a difficulty in transporting their produce to the markets well in time, says the MLA, adding that “I have noted down names of a few gram panchayats and remote villages like Manju, Majhar and a few others in the MLA priority schemes to connect these with road facility.”

“Water crisis during the summers is another big challenge for the people who find it difficult to meet the demand for water for domestic and agricultural use. A few potable water and irrigation schemes like the Saroa to Churah water scheme to be constructed at a cost of Rs 45 crore, which will cater to the demand of 24 panchayats in the region, have been proposed,” he told the Himachal Tribune.

Another water scheme worth Rs 15 crore has been proposed to cover the left-out panchayats in the Karsog area and construction on it will start soon, he said. “I have also requested the state government to open a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Karsog to provide better education facilities to students at their doorsteps,” he remarked.

Born in Lalag village under the Karsog Assembly segment, the 51-year-old MLA did his graduation from Vallabh Government Postgraduate College. Thereafter, he started his career as a school principal in a private school in 1992. In 1995, he contested the Zila Parishad election from the Karsog ward and won. In 1998, he was elected as general secretary of the BJP, which gave him a chance to enhance his political reach among the common public.

In 1998, he asked for the BJP ticket to contest the Assembly election, but was denied the ticket. In 2007, he was once again denied the ticket, but he contested as an Independent and won the Assembly election.

In the 2012 Assembly election, the BJP relied on him and gave him the party ticket to contest the election. He lost the election to Congress candidate Mansa Ram. Last year, he won the election on the BJP ticket with a margin of 4,830 votes and entered the Himachal Vidhan Sabha.