Date:01/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/01/stories/2008010159921200.htm

National

Manmohan assures Himachal of all help

Sujay Mehdudia

Dhumal lays stress on industrial package and railway projects

— Photo: PTI/ Subhav Shukla

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday assured the newly elected Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of all possible help in the overall development of the State and in making it economically strong.

Mr. Dhumal, who called on Dr. Singh here, urged the Prime Minister to restore the deadline for an industrial package to 2012 as was originally proposed by the NDA Government. It was curtailed later on.

Employment opportunities

This package was important as an influx of big industrial houses would go a long way in providing employment and professional opportunities to youth and also bring about economic prosperity in the State, Mr. Dhumal said.

He also took up with the Prime Minister the issue of setting up an Indian Institute of Technology and a Central University in the State. The Himachal Pradesh government would provide all assistance in this endeavour. Mr. Dhumal sought budgetary provisions for the proposed railway projects in the State, which became all the more important in view of the massive industrial activity taking place there.

He mentioned the Baddi-Barotiwala, Bhanupali-Bilaspur and Berri and Nangal Talwara rail lines, work on which has been hanging fire for many years.

Meets Vajpayee

Earlier, Mr. Dhumal met the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee , BJP national president Rajnath Singh and other senior party leaders.