PREM KUMAR Dhumal, Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday announced that 2000 water guards would be kept for maintenance of water supply schemes in rural areas. He further announced the enhancement of honorarium of water guards from Rs. 750 to Rs. 1350 per month. This would benefit 4220 water guards in the state.

While addressing a mammoth gathering at Jawahar Park of Sundernagar in Mandi, Chief Minister announced that 100 junior engineers would be appointed in the irrigation and public health department so as to better water supply for fields as well as habitations in the state.

Chief Minister announced 14.40 lakh for Gymnasium Hall at Mandi, Rs. 36.33 lakh for Indoor Stadium Badrinagar (Poanta Sahib), Rs. 15 lakh for Stadium of Govt. Senior Secondary School, Mohri (Mandi), Rs. 6.86 lakh for High Mast lights in Vikram Batra Stadium, Palampur, Rs. 25 lakh for Town Hall Mandi, Rs. 12.17 lakh for wrestling stadium at Chehar (Ghumarwin), Rs. 25 lakh for stadium in Govt. Senior Secondary School , Karsog, Rs. 20 lakh for boundary wall of Chamoha ground Nahan, Rs. 10 lakh for Outdoor Sports Complex Dhalpur, Kullu, Rs. 5 lakh for Sports Stadium Jubbal, Rs. 15 lakh for Shooting Range at Nahan, Rs. 94 lakh for Synthetic Track Dharamshala, Rs. 90.06 lakh for Sports Complex Dharamshala, Rs. 16.68 lakh for Volley Terra Flex Flooring at Una, Shimla and Dharamshala, Rs. 1 crore for Indoor Stadium Rohroo and Rs. 1.22 crore for Synthetic Track Hamirpur.

Chief Minister also announced upgradation of Govt. Middle School Bandli to Govt. High School, Govt. Middle School Dharanda to Govt. High School, Govt. High Schools Porhi, Kothi, Maloh to Govt. Senior Secondary Schools. He also announced Rs. 83 lakh for mini secretariat, Sundernagar, Rs. 50 lakh for HRTC workshop Sundernagar, and Rs. 3.31 crore for Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme Sundernagar.

Chief Minister announced cash incentive and tax exemption under Mukhyamantri Gram Path Parivahan Yojna so as to encourage people to take routes under the scheme in interior areas of the State. For 29 seater, it will be Rs. 2000 per month, for 22 seater Rs. 1500 per month and for 17 seater it will be Rs. 1000 per month.

Gulab Singh Thakur, PWD Minister, Ravinder Singh Ravi, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Narender Bragta, Horticulture Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Mahender Singh, Transport Minister, Dile Ram, MLA and Chairman HP State Finance Commission, Roop Singh Thakur, Col. Inder Singh, Shri Hira Lal, Smt. Vinod Chandel, all MLAs, former MLAs, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Boards and Corporations, Smt. Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary, Dr. D.S. Manhas, DGP and other senior officers were present on the occasion. A colourful cultural programme and police band display was also organised on the occasion.