Himachal Pradesh awaits centre's aid for road restoration

Vikramaditya Singh, Public Works Minister, Himachal Pradesh, accused the Centre of failing to fulfill their promise of assistance for the restoration of roads after the monsoon disaster in Himachal Pradesh. He stated that following the state's calamity, Nitin Gadkri, Union Minister of Road Transportation and Highways, had visited Himachal Pradesh and declared aid of Rs 2.75 billion for upgrading major district roads (MDR), financial support under the Bharat Setu Scheme for bridges, and Rs 550 million for two significant roads connecting Mandi and Kullu. The Union Minister had also pledged Rs 1 billion under the Bharat Setu Scheme for repairing damaged bridges and Rs 500 million for fixing roads connecting National Highways. However, no funds have been received by the state until now. Singh expressed astonishment that the Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Centre. Singh challenged Thakur to disclose the precise figures of the aid given by the Central government. Furthermore, Singh advocated for lifting the ban on the operation of stone crushers imposed by the state government on Beas River and its tributaries. He asserted that illegal mining, not stone crushers, was responsible for the devastation during the monsoon fury.