HimVani
Kargog: The state-level Independence Day function was celebrated here with traditional gaiety and fanfare today. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal unfurled the national flag and took salute from the contingents of police, home-guards and NCC.
The sub-divisional headquarter of Karsog, known for its dense forests and panoramic lush green valleys, wore a festive look as it hosted the state-level function. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister paid glowing tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for attaining independence. He also lauded the role of the freedom fighters who spearheaded the Karsog Satyagrah and announced setting up of a memorial in their memory and added that he would lay its foundation today itself.
He announced a sum of Rs 15 lakh for the development of Shikari Devi and another Rs 10 lakh for the renovation of Mahu Nag Temple. He also announced up gradation of 15 schools of Karsog valley.
Dhumal said Himachal was poised to emerge as one of the most prosperous states of the country by harnessing its vast tourism and hydel power potential. He said despite heavy odds, the hilly state was heading to become an ideal, prosperous and self-reliant state in the near future. “Himachal had already emerged as a role model of hill development in the spheres of education, infrastructural development and implementation of socioeconomic ventures aimed at economic uplift and transformation of the life of the people,” he said.
He said the BJP government had given special priority for the development of villages where 90 per cent of total population of the state lived and depended on agriculture. The integrated development of horticulture, agriculture, animal husbandry etc had been taken up to boost the income of the farmers. In the past two years, about 15,000 hectares of land had been brought under irrigation and another 19,000 hectares of land would be further provided assured irrigation during the next 3 years.
Chief Minister said the road network in the state was being augmented on a war-footing as no development was possible without constructing the roads, which were the life-lines of the state. He said over 30,000 km length of roads had already been constructed in the Pradesh besides 16 National Highways with total length of over 5100 km.
There are reports from other district and tehsil headquarters celebrating I-Day. State Revenue and HPPWD Minister Gulab Singh Thakur hoisted the national flag at historic Ridge Maidan. Vidhan Sabha speaker Tulsi Ram presided over the I-Day function at Kangra district. Education Minister ID Dhiman at Sangrah in Sirmour district, Irrigation & Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi at Banikhet in Chamba, Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor at Ani in Kullu, Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta, at Nadaun in Hamirpur and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Dhawala at Kunihar in Solan, Local MLA and Former Minister Ram Lal Markenday at Keylong in Lahaul Spiti.
I-Day function was also celebrated at Rajbhavan where Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh unfurl the Tricolor and took the salute presented by security personal of Rajbhavan. Similarly, the Tricolor was also hoisted at Himacha Pradesh High Court Complex here today where Chief Justice Kurian Joseph hoisted the the flag. The function was also attended by all all high court judges and lower judicial officers.
Reports of celebrations were also pouring in from all over the state and educational institutions.
