Himachal’s New CM Must Act Tough
Prof N.K. Singh
Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
There are many indications that new Chief Minister of the state, known to be a gentle soul, will like to carry the burden of babudum and hiscolleagues in assembly in goody-goody manner. Some wags often say inbazaars “Sabka saaath and sab ka vikas nahin chale ga”. It is no doubt a sign of good manners but it is going to prove a liability in acting on dot to perform and to deliver on promises that his party has made to people.
It is known to the party men and public at large that Himachal has put up with poor governance for long. Large signs writ on the administrative failure are condition of roads, failure to take decisions promptly on large projects like Central University and law and order as shown in Kotkhai rape and murder case. How could top police officers be involved in such ghastly crime and how can one rate the law and order of the state when those supposed to protect the law violate it themselves? Financial indiscipline is shown in the largest debt nearing bankruptcy in the balance sheet of the state. Big announcements of administrative reforms failed to do even an iota ofreform. In such a situation, steering the state when expectations arehigh and liabilities many, the task is arduous and needs fast, decisive steps of the administrative structure. Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh has evolved a model but Himachal is different. It is a small state and needs strategies that suit a small but neglected state of the country. It must evolve its priorities of development at the earliest and start acting on targets in a time bound manner. For example take train and air connections, UP and Uttarakhand are fully connected states. Himachal has hardly two trains from Delhi that touch its borders whereas Uttarakhand has dozens. Air connectivity is being talked about by both parties of the state and yet nothing has happened as its is still in is rudimentary state.
Being myself an international aviation expert, I bemoan the failure of government to mobilise resources to build infrastructure and connectthe state. Our roads are worse than neighbouring Punjab. Economicsalvation of Himachal does not need chemical spreading eco-unfriendlyindustries. We have three priories. Priority number one is tourism butit is dependent on roads, rail and aviation and all three are in poor shape stalling the growth of tourism and employment. Chief Minister must gohammer and tongs to develop the tourism, connect industry andinfrastructure. We need to stop wasting money and efforts on agriculture. In its placewe need to develop horticulture and silviculture. Already apple andplum are being produced in the state. Fruit cultivation should bethe main agri product in Himachal. Plant thousands of pecan nuttrees that is selling at high value and monkeys or wild animals do not eatit. It is also being proposed to circumvent government’s inability totake effective steps to eliminate animal nuisance to farmers. We canbuy wheat and rice from Punjab and sell fruits. Agriculture too needsirrigation but it is totally neglected area with known problems oflogistics. May be drip irrigation should be installed in a big way.
Third major priority should be to stop producing hydro power by replacing it with solar or wind power. We need not expand hydro powerdue to problems it is causing to flora and fauna down below the streamdue to water dislocations that affects even the irrigation. Solar and windpower are more eco-friendly and cheaper in the long run. Above all, Chief Minister must set its own machinery well oiled and in action. Laid back style of the bureaucracy must give way to activism. Chief Minister must declare chalta hai nahin chalega. We must shake up dust from the administrative machine and tell all that they perform or perish. No more political leaders should protect the dishonest, corrupt and inefficient people in position of power. Give up luxuries and status symbols like red lights andcaravan of cars following leaders. There must be fixed regular time forthe public to meet Chief Minister to cut through the red tape and establishdirect contact with people. Hopefully my proposed agenda will bringdefinite change in the culture and work of the government.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘Divya Himachal TV’. Also, Download our Android App
