'Roads, health, jobs key to fiscal stability'

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: expect to pull Himachal Pradesh out of the present fiscal difficulties?

There is no question of creating a surplus at this point of time as we are just concentrating on reducing the deficit. To begin with, I have also told government employees to reduce the official expenditure and to curb the wastage. Meanwhile, it is very important to strengthen the rural areas to develop the state. Our slogan this time is Sadak, Shiksha, Swasthaya, Swarojgar to make people of the state financially strong. There are various villages which sans connectivity and face various hurdles in commuting. We are aiming at connecting each and every village by providing better connectivity.

How do you intend to do that—provide better connectivity?

Being a hill state, the road transportation sector is very important. In a project with the World Bank we are usig a loan of Rs 1365 crore to upgrade the various roads. Under this scheme modern district roads are being constructed in a move to connect various villages. Efforts are being put in to improve the air connectivity and more flights are being added connecting Kullu, Kangra and Shimla. There is also a move to expand the domestic airport at Kullu. The aim is to reduce the distances and have more tunnels. Though there is less scope having effective rail system but there are proposals to have rail link between Chandigarh and Baddi. Besides Mandi, Kullu and Manali could be linked. Then Leh and Ladakh can also get connected. This will boost the tourism in state as well.

What is being done to accelerate the growth of the tourism sector?

Our government is focusing on strengthening sports, trekking and adventurous activities. Religious and farm tourism is also being promoted. Interestingly we are approaching education institutions across the country to have tourists groups of students, who could be sent to apple orchards or villages in Himachal to have a feel of the ground situation. This would increase their knowledge, exposure and will bring in more tourism for Himachal. HP can use the hydel projects for tourist attraction as the power projects also raise much curiosity among school and college students.