Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that steps would be taken to increase production of Kangra tea besides popularising it at international level. He expressed concern over reduction in area under Tea cultivation over the past years and said that serious efforts would be made to encourage the tea cultivators. He was talking to media persons at Palampur in Kangra district today.

Earlier, he was welcomed by Brij Behari Lal Butail, Speaker, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, along-with local people in large number at Palampur.

Chief Minister said that Government would welcome the initiatives of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for popularising cricket game in the State but stern action would be taken if anomalies were found in construction of Hotel and main cricket stadium would be used for commercial activities.

He said that Government was serious on benami land transactions and all illegal possessions would be transferred to the government. Similarly, suitable action would be taken against those private universities who had been allotted land by flouting the norms.

Chief Minister also listened to public grievances at Palampur and directed the authorities for their speedy redressal.

Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma, MLAs Jagjivan Paul, Yadvinder Goma and Sanjay Rattan, former MLAs Milkhi Ram Goma, Director of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Jagdish Sipahiya and other prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.