Himachal CM: Institutions opened without budget provisions with eye on polls

Shimla: The previous BJP Government in the state had opened over 590 institutions during the fag end of its tenure without making any budgetary provision for them and without recruitment of required staff with a sole objective to woo the voters in the state, stated Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while interacting with media persons after he arrived at Shimla from New Delhi on Sunday.
The Chief Minister said that the former BJP Government during the last six months of its tenure went on a spree to open health, education, revenue and other institutions in a desperate bid to “befool” the voters. He said that to make functional all these 590 institutions, an amount of about Rs. 3000 crore was required.
He said that it was strange that the state was reeling under the heavy financial debt trap of over Rs. 75,000 crore and the BJP Government who claimed to be the Government of double engine could not even get assistance of even a single paisa from the Central Government during its tenure.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that over 30 health institutions had been opened by the previous BJP Government which did not have even class IV employees and a large number of institutions were opened with just a single employee. He said that it was strange that SDM offices were opened and no SDM was posted in these offices.
The Chief Minister said that in most of the institutions staff from adjoining institutions was temporarily deployed which was not only proving futile for the newly opened offices but also hampering the functioning of the already existing institution.
He said that health institutions opened during this period were devoid of man and machinery and were simply an eyewash to befool the people. He said that the State Government would take up the whole issue with the people and apprise them about the misdeeds of the previous BJP Government.
He said that the state Government has decided to wind up such institutions and all these would be reviewed and if found to be viable and required would be opened after making proper budget provision.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the present Government was for change of governance system and not there to enjoy power. He said that the Government would ensure that institutions were opened as per demand and in the larger interest of the people of the state. He said that the arrest of the accused in the JOA (IT) paper leak shows that the paper scam took place during the BJP Government’s tenure. He said that he has directed the police officers to be vigilant whenever such papers were conducted so as to ensure complete transparency and accountability.

The Chief Minister said that the Government was concerned about the issue related to cement plants in the State. He said that the whole issue was between Cement Plant management and Truck Operators Union and would be sorted out soon. He said that the people of the State would get cement at cheaper rates in the days to come.
(UNI)