Dharamsala, Nov 28 (NationPress) The expansion of Kangra Airport is actively progressing, backed by a substantial investment of Rs 460 crore, as stated by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during the 'Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar' initiative held at the Tangroti gram panchayat in the Dharamshala Assembly area, where he addressed the community's concerns.

During this event, he also declared a grant of Rs 1 lakh for each local Mahila Mandal, in addition to funding for the Ramed-Tangroti link road and the tarring of surrounding roads.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the government has designated Kangra district as the “Tourism Capital of Himachal Pradesh,” and numerous tourism projects are currently being executed in the area. He noted that these initiatives will significantly boost the income of local residents in the years ahead.

He mentioned that Rs 460 crore has been allocated for the Kangra Airport expansion, with work already in progress. “Upon completion, the airport will enhance land value and likely lead to an increase in tourist arrivals, thereby bolstering the local economy,” he remarked. Highlighting that over 90 percent of the state's population resides in rural regions, he stated that the government is committed to fortifying the rural economy.

To benefit cattle rearers, the government has raised the minimum support price (MSP) for cow milk to Rs 51 per litre and buffalo milk to Rs 61 per litre.

Focusing on farmers, the MSP has also been established for naturally cultivated crops. The government is acquiring wheat at Rs 60 per kg, maize at Rs 40 per kg, and raw turmeric at Rs 90 per kg produced through natural farming. Additionally, efforts are underway to generate employment opportunities for the youth locally to promote self-sufficiency.

In reference to the recent by-election, the Chief Minister mentioned that the BJP secured the Dharamsala seat through misleading propaganda. He stated that Congress candidate Devinder Singh Jaggi lost by a narrow margin to a candidate who had defected from Congress to BJP.

Moreover, Sukhu indicated that the government is placing significant emphasis on modernizing both the education and health sectors. Himachal Pradesh has recently achieved the landmark of becoming a fully literate state, boasting a literacy rate of 99.30 percent, ranking it among the top five states in terms of reading and writing abilities.

“Thanks to the reforms implemented by the government, Himachal Pradesh now stands fifth nationally in terms of educational quality, compared to its prior rank of 21 during the previous BJP administration,” he added.