Dharamshala: Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes presided over the district-level Independence Day function at Dharamshala. While addressing the at function, Stokes said that State Government was according priority for providing safe drinking water to the people of the State. She said that out of total 53604 habitations 32416 were being provided drinking water facility with 70 liter per person per day. She said that a target of providing such facility to 2509 habitations has been fixed during current financial year.

Minister said that in order to provide safe drinking water to tourists and general public six water ATMs were being set up at various places of the State. She said that two such ATMs would be set up in Kangra district.

The Minister said that work on channelization of Chhonch khad of Indora Tehsil in Kangra district was in progress on which Rs. 180 crore was being spent. She said that many national institutes including National Fashion Designing, Food and Craft Institute and Central University etc. had been set up. She said that Rs. 150 crore was being spent on infrastructure development at Tanda Medical College and said that State Government had taken effective steps to make it as a pioneer institute of the country.

She honoured the persons for their outstanding contributions in various fields on the occasion.

Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-in-Exile Lobsang Sangyal Rinpochhe, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Neeraj Bharati Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Jagdish Sipahiya, Deputy Commissioner C. Palrasu, Superintendent of Police Kapil Sharma and prominent persons of the district were present on the occasion.

At Una

Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri presided over the district-level Independence Day function at Una and while addressing the function minister said that Rs. 310 crore project for environment conservation had been sanctioned for districts Kangra and Chamba with the assistance of German Government. He said that the project would start from the month of September this year and would focus on plantation and eradication of lantana.

He said that Una district had emerged as an industrial hub of the State and there were 2226 industrial units with investment of Rs. 1730 crore in which 15679 persons had got employment. He announced to set up Ganghut of Forest Department in Haroli area.
He honoured the persons who had excelled in various fields.

Onkar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Jain, Superintendent of Police Anupam Sharma, senior officers and prominent persons of the district were also present on the occasion.