Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state’s first ozone based drinking water treatment project is being established in Dehra in Kangra district to ensure the supply of clean drinking water. The government has allocated Rs 460 million (Rs 460 mn) for the project and will proceed with implementation in the constituency. He said that similar ozone based water treatment projects will subsequently be set up across the state and that the initiative forms part of a broader push to strengthen public services. The chief minister also announced the opening of a veterinary hospital at Baddal Thor to strengthen veterinary services in the area. Surveys are being conducted in panchayats to identify beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana, with a stated commitment to ensure that even the person standing at the last rung of society receives a rightful share of state resources. Sukhu highlighted initiatives aimed at making the state self reliant and said positive results were visible since the current government took office. He outlined the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana to involve yuva and mahila mandals in planting and protecting forests and noted that self help groups are provided financial assistance of Rs 0.12 mn, alongside incentives tied to the survival of plantations. The chief minister said steps were being taken to strengthen the education sector, with Central Board of Secondary Education schools already opened in the state and more to be established to provide improved learning opportunities. Sukhu assured that there would be no dearth of funds for development in Dehra and that adequate allocations were being made for various works across the constituency. Earlier, the chief minister received a warm welcome from residents on arrival at the Baddal Thor helipad and was honoured by the local member of the legislative assembly and other party representatives. He later visited the Laxmi Narayan temple at Chanour and offered prayers as part of the visit, with officials indicating that the new projects are intended to bolster local infrastructure and services.