Bilaspur: Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister G.S. Bali presided over district-level Independence Day function at Bilaspur.

While addressing the gathering, Bali said that to ensure food for all, the Government had launched an ambitious ‘Rajeev Gandhi Ann Yojana’ under which as many as 37 lakh people of the State were being provided ration on subsidized rates. Besides, a sum of rupees 220 crore was being spent on providing essential edible items to the people of the State under the ‘Food Subsidy Scheme’.

Bali said that Engineering College of Hydro Power in the association of NHPC and NTPC would be set up in Bandla of district Bilaspur and 62.6 bighas land had been transferred for it.

He announced Rs. two crore for strengthening HRTC depot at Bilaspur and AC bus from Ghumarwin to Delhi. He also sanctioned ‘Mudrika bus’ between Kandraur to Bilaspur and shuttle bus service between Bilaspur to Ghumarwin. He announced non stop bus service from Bilaspur to Chandigarh with fare charges of Rs. 150.

Bali also honoured the persons, who had excelled in various fields.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Rajesh Dharamani, Chairman, State Planning Development and 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee, Ram Lal Thakur, MLAs, Bamber Thakur and Sanjay Rattan, former MLAs Tilak Raj and Babu Ram Gautam, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ajay Sharma, Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar, senior officers and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.