Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that disaster-affected families in Himachal Pradesh will be provided with one bigha of land each, while acknowledging that the state government will need to approach the Centre for land allocation as most land falls under forest regulations.
The announcement came during the state assembly session where discussions on disaster management took an unexpected turn when the opposition BJP staged a walkout just as Revenue Minister Jagat Singh stood up to respond to queries. Chief Minister Sukhu criticized the opposition’s conduct, stating that Leader of Opposition Jayram Thakur had himself proposed the disaster discussion but was absent when the government was providing answers.
“It appears how sensitive they are towards disaster victims when they walk out during the government’s response,” Sukhu remarked, questioning the opposition’s commitment to the affected people. He emphasized that disasters do not announce their arrival and cited examples from Uttarakhand and Kishtwar, where similar calamities have struck recently.
The Chief Minister highlighted the state government’s comprehensive disaster relief package, revealing that while disaster victims in Kishtwar received Rs 1.30 lakh for house reconstruction, Himachal Pradesh is providing Rs 7 lakh for the same purpose. Additionally, families who lost household items will receive a separate compensation of Rs 70,000. The disaster package will be implemented across the entire state.
During the assembly proceedings, CM Sukhu addressed growing concerns about cancer cases in the state, admitting that excessive use of pesticides and urea in agriculture is a major contributing factor to the rising cancer incidents. He announced that the quality of chemicals used for spraying on fruits and vegetables will be strictly monitored, with specific instructions given to Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi for necessary action.
The Chief Minister revealed alarming statistics about cancer prevalence in Himachal Pradesh, stating that the state ranks second in the country after the northeastern states in terms of cancer cases. To combat this health crisis, the government is taking several proactive measures including the installation of PET scan machines at IGMC Shimla and Tanda Medical College by October, which will enable early detection of cancer.
Sukhu announced plans to establish similar PET scan facilities at medical colleges in Nerchowk, Hamirpur, and other locations in the coming period. A significant development is the initiation of a Rs 300 crore cancer institute in Hamirpur, which will provide specialized treatment facilities closer to patients’ homes.
The state government has allocated Rs 3,000 crore for purchasing modern medical equipment, including linear accelerators and PET scan machines, to enhance cancer treatment capabilities across Himachal Pradesh. This substantial investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing the healthcare crisis comprehensively.
During the question hour, MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore highlighted that Mandi and Shimla districts are recording the highest number of cancer cases, primarily attributed to indiscriminate use of pesticides on apples and vegetables. He raised serious concerns about unbranded and substandard pesticides being sold in markets without proper regulation or quality control.
MLA Rakesh Kalia brought attention to a specific case of a cancer-affected child from Una district who requires bone marrow transplantation at PGI Chandigarh, involving an expense of Rs 20 lakh. The Chief Minister assured assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for this case and similar situations. Kalia also demanded the establishment of a chemotherapy center in Una to provide treatment facilities locally.
The government’s focus on promoting natural farming practices emerged as a key strategy to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This initiative aims to address the root cause of increasing cancer cases while supporting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit both farmers and consumers.
Health Minister Dhaniram Shandil addressed another critical issue by announcing that the long-vacant position of State Drug Controller will be filled soon. MLA Satpal Singh Satti had pointed out that Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, considered Asia’s pharma hub, has been without a drug controller for nearly two years, affecting drug quality monitoring and leading to sample failures.
