Pursue forest clearance cases on priority: Himachal CM

Shimla, Jan 24 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday issued directions to pursue forest clearance cases as a top priority to speed up developmental projects.

On the second day of the annual meeting of legislators to finalise priority issues for the state budget for next fiscal, the government considered strengthening public works, irrigation and public health departments to ensure early forest clearances.

The additional chief secretary of forests and revenue and the principal secretaries of the departments concerned would hold meetings once a month for monitoring such cases, he added.

An official statement quoting the chief minister said no post of teachers in schools and colleges in remote areas would remain vacant.

Singh stressed on early completion of detailed project reports and directed the public works department to maintain roads properly.

On the channelisation of rivulets, he said these should be done as per demand from the legislators.

Official sources said the state government has proposed an annual plan of Rs.4,800 crore for 2015-16, which is Rs.400 crore higher than the previous annual plan.