In a bid to strengthen the health and water infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met with Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and CR Patil in New Delhi today. The discussions focused on essential issues related to the state’s health services and water resource projects, seeking significant central support for their implementation and advancement.
During his meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted the pressing need for improved health infrastructure in the state. He brought to Nadda’s attention the state’s requirements under various national schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission. Expressing concern over the current gaps in healthcare facilities, Sukhu emphasized the urgency of modernizing government hospitals and introducing advanced medical technologies to ensure high-quality healthcare for the people of Himachal Pradesh.
One of the key requests from the Chief Minister was the establishment of a dedicated cancer care center in the state, which he argued was crucial given the rising number of cancer cases. He also called for the relaxation of eligibility criteria for several central schemes, which would enable the state to access funds more effectively. Furthermore, Sukhu urged for the immediate release of pending funds allocated to the state under various healthcare schemes to ensure uninterrupted implementation. In response, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda assured the Chief Minister that the Centre would provide full cooperation, ensuring that the interests of Himachal Pradesh were fully protected.
Later, in his meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Chief Minister Sukhu discussed several water resource projects that are critical for Himachal Pradesh’s sustainable development. A key focus was the Kishau Hydro Electric Project, where Sukhu strongly advocated for the protection of the state’s rights in the project. He emphasized the need for a favorable funding pattern and proposed that the financial burden of the project be borne either by the Government of India or by the major beneficiary states such as Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Additionally, Sukhu raised concerns regarding the Renuka Dam project and highlighted the need for proper consideration of the Local Area Development Fund and the free power component associated with it. He stressed that while hydroelectric projects play a vital role in national development, their environmental and social impacts must be addressed appropriately. The Chief Minister called for fair compensation for the affected states to mitigate any negative consequences.
During the meeting, Sukhu also requested the prompt release of pending funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a crucial initiative aimed at improving water supply and sanitation in rural areas of the state. In response to these concerns, Union Minister CR Patil assured full cooperation from the central government and promised to look into the issues raised by the Chief Minister to ensure the state’s rightful claims were respected.
Both meetings reflected the ongoing commitment of the Himachal Pradesh government to address its citizens’ needs in health and water sectors, while also striving for a balanced development approach that takes into account both environmental and socio-economic factors.
Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Resident Commissioner Meera Mohanty, and Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar accompanied the Chief Minister during these important discussions.
#HimachalPradesh #SukhvinderSinghSukhu #UnionMinisters #HealthInfrastructure #WaterProjects #AyushmanBharat #JalJeevanMission #HydroelectricProjects #GovernmentSupport
