Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today performed stone foundation laying ceremony of 1200 meter long Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project connecting Una and Hamirpur districts with all weather motorable connectivity. The tunneling project is estimated to cost Rs.145.47 crore and reduce distance between Bangana and Dhaneta by eight kilometers.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting at Bangana, Chief Minister, congratulated the people of Una and Hamirpur district for the tunnel project which had been a long cherished dream of the people of both the districts. He said that Detailed Project Report (DPR) of three tunneling projects had been prepared which included Holi-Uttrala connecting Bharmour of district Chamba with Baijnath in district Kangra, Bhubu Jot tunnel project connecting Joginder Nagar and Kullu area and third being Bangana-Dhaneta project. He said that work on Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project would be started on priority for which a provision of Rs.10 crore had already been made. He said that the tunnel was bound to give boost to tourism activities in the area since large number of devotees and tourists had been travelling through district Una and entering other parts of the State. He said that this would not only reduce geographical distances but also strengthen emotional bond.

Prof. Dhumal reminded people of NDA regime when subsidized ration facilities were available to the people and complete control on prices was imposed for six long years. He said that price rise and UPA were twin sisters and both had been hand-in-glove. He counted the discriminations Centre had done with Himachal Pradesh and said that people of the State had always been making supreme sacrifice for the sake of the nation, whether serving in armed forces or surrendering their ancestral land to pave way for construction of hydel projects to feed power to the country. He said that it was unfortunate that all claims of the State were being denied by the Centre although it had been cleared by the Apex Court of the country.

Chief Minister said that first phase of distribution of school uniform under Atal SchoolUniform Yojna had been completed and second phase was likely to be started soon. He said that two pairs of school uniform were being made available to the students of first to matric level and additionally Rs.100 were being given each time as stitching charges to all students. He counted other developmental milestones established in the state during present regime which had set a new record in the State.



Shri Virender Kanwar, local MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary welcomed the Chief Minister to his home segment and thanked him for laying foundation of long awaited tunneling project. He thanked Chief Minister for opening a college, SDM Office, drinking and irrigation schemes for the segment. He said that world class road was under construction passing through the area. He said that Rs.60 crore were being spent under various road projects in the segment during current financial year. He said that over 70 hand pumps had been bored in the segment. He counted various other developmental activities which had taken place in his home segment during current regime.

Shri Satpal Singh Satti, MLA and President, State BJP, Shri Baldev Sharma,MLA, Shri Balbir Chaudhary,MLA and President, District Una BJP, Shri Parveen Sharma, Vice Chairman, Water Management Board, Smt. Santosh Saini, Chairperson, HIMFED, Smt. Kamla, Chairperson, Panchayat Samiti, Shri Vijay Agnihotri, Vice President, District Hamirpur BJP, Shri Manohar Lal, Vice President,District Una BJP, Shri Suresh Banka, President, Kutlehar BJP Mandal, other senior officers and leaders of the area were present on the occasion.

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