IT parks to be developed in Dharamshala and Palampur: Harshvardhan Chouhan

Dharamshala, May 9, 2023: During a press conference held in Dharamshala on Tuesday, Harsh Vardhan Chouhan, the Industry, Parliamentary Affairs, and AYUSH Minister, announced that Kangra district is poised to become a hub for tourism and industrial development. The Chief Minister, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, has made the development of Kangra a top priority, and the government has prepared an action plan to establish industries in the marginal areas of Kangra district while simultaneously promoting tourism in the district.

Chouhan emphasized the government's commitment to providing maximum employment opportunities to the youth of the state by encouraging private investment in the tourism and industrial sectors. He stated that the government has already given the green signal to an investment of Rs 13 thousand crore for development in its short tenure. MoUs for various projects worth about Rs 6500 crore have been signed, and an investment of Rs 4,500 crore has been approved through the single window system. Additionally, MoUs worth about Rs 2200 crore have been signed regarding the pharma industry.

Chouhan also announced plans to develop IT parks in Dharamshala and Palampur, with two potential sites already inspected in Palampur while the other site shall be inspected on Wednesday at Dharamsala. The government is committed to providing 20,000 jobs to the youth within a year and 1 lakh jobs in the government sector in 5 years.

He informed that the state government's tenure of five months has been marked by numerous achievements, according to industry experts. The government has made significant strides in eliminating corruption and nepotism by prioritizing honesty and transparency. One of the government's promises was to provide old-age pensions to 1.36 lakh government employees in the state, which has been successfully implemented. Additionally, the resolution to provide Rs 1500 to women every month is being fulfilled in a phased manner.

The Minister revealed that the state's budget includes provisions for establishing Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools in all 68 assembly constituencies. This initiative will undoubtedly improve access to education for children across the state.

In addition to this, the government is also promoting the use of electric vehicles as a sustainable mode of transportation. To support this, electric charging stations have been installed in Shimla, Hamirpur, and Kangra Districts. This move towards eco-friendly transportation is a commendable effort towards reducing the state's carbon footprint.

Furthermore, the expansion of Kangra airport will give tourism a much-needed boost. The government has allocated Rs 2 thousand crore for land acquisition. Additionally, the government has started work on developing water sports activities in Pong, an international-level zoological park, and a golf course. These initiatives will undoubtedly enhance the state's tourism industry.

The Congress Party Treasurer Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Secretary Puneet Malli, and other party officials were present during this press meet at Dharamshala.