Revenue Minister tours border panchayats in Kinnaur district

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi toured border panchayats of Chitkul and Rakchham in Kinnaur district yesterday. He underlined Chitkul panchayat’s strategic importance and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the development of such regions.

The minister listened to the grievances of local people and assured them that their genuine demands would be addressed in a phased manner. He later inaugurated a project for the beautification of Ukhyang Sanatang at Batseri village, completed at a cost of Rs 20 lakh along with high-mast lights installed at the temple complex at a cost of Rs 4.61 lakh, funded by JSW Ltd.

Negi inaugurated a World Bank-funded irrigation tank and pipeline built under the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project at a cost of Rs 1.61 crore. The minister also laid the foundation stone of a community prayer hall at Shri Badri Narayan Temple at Batseri village to be constructed at a cost of Rs 5 lakh and a community meeting hall at Choring village, to be built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

At Batseri village, the minister said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was making efforts for the uplift of farmers, horticulturists and livestock owners, with focus on increasing rural income.

He added that the government was focusing on strengthening educational and healthcare facilities and road connectivity in tribal areas and ensuring that inclusive policies benefit the residents of remote areas.

District Congress president Umesh Negi, State Cooperative Bank Director Pitambar Negi, KINFED Chairman Chandra Gopal Negi, Kalpa Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Lalita Pancharas, Kalpa SDO Major Shashank Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer Arvind Kumar and Public Works Department Executive Engineer Anand Kumar Sharma were present.