Thursday , October 10 2024

Himachal Budget: Support price of milk increased, 493 libraries will open in Panchayats

Shimla, 17 February (HS). Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu made several new announcements in the budget on Saturday. The Chief Minister said that under the Milk Scheme, a milk plant will be established in Dangwar, Kangra and its production capacity will be increased to three lakh litres. The Chief Minister has announced increase in the support price for milk in the state. In the budget, the Chief Minister has announced to increase the purchase price of cow milk from Rs 38 to Rs 45 and the purchase price of buffalo milk from Rs 47 per liter to Rs 55 per liter. He said that Himachal has become the first state in the country to declare minimum support price for milk purchase.

The Chief Minister said in the budget speech that to improve the quality of education in the state, Padho Himachal campaign will be started and under this, 493 libraries will be opened at the Panchayat level.

The Chief Minister has announced a provision of Rs 300 crore for the horticulture sector. Under this, 75 irrigation schemes will be built and two food processing plants will be established.

The Chief Minister also announced in the budget to develop nine heliports and provide skywalk facility to tourists. He said that four new transmission lines will be built. Notification for expansion of Kangra Airport has been issued in the direction of making Kangra the tourism capital of the district. Land acquisition work will be completed soon. Nine heliports will be developed in the first phase. Their feasibility report has been received. These will be constructed at Rs 13 crore per heliport. All home stay units will be brought under the Tourism Act. Tourists will get the facility of Skywalk.

The Chief Minister has announced to make the state the first green state by the year 2026 for which the help of solar roof top will be taken. Electric vehicles will be promoted in the state for which 50 percent subsidy will be given by the government. A provision of subsidy of Rs 10 crore has been made to the farmers for crop protection and flood protection. The Chief Minister has also announced to buy up to 30 quintals of farmers' crops in the state at MSP. For this, Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Scheme worth Rs 680 crore will be started. Apart from this, it has also been announced to build a state center for cancer prevention in Hamirpur at a cost of Rs 2 crore.