Shimla, Sept 9,
Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur, lashed out at the Sukhu government over the rising cost of cement, accusing it of making the construction of houses more expensive for the common man, even as the Central Government has approved 93,000 homes for Himachal Pradesh. Thakur highlighted that while the Centre is extending aid to help people rebuild their lives, the state government’s policies are pushing housing costs higher.
Jairam Thakur expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central leadership for the allocation of 93,000 homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). He emphasized that this large-scale housing aid is a significant relief for the disaster-struck state and noted that Himachal Pradesh has never before received such a substantial housing allocation in one go. “Earlier, the Modi government provided 17,500 houses following the recent disaster, and now, they have fully accepted the new housing list from the state,” Thakur said.
However, he criticized the Sukhu government for increasing cement prices during a time when the state is still reeling from natural calamities. Thakur remarked, “The price of cement has increased twice in one week, making the construction of houses unaffordable for the poor. This is a complete failure of the state government.”
He further accused the Sukhu administration of exploiting the disaster for economic gain by raising the prices of essential construction materials. “Since the current government took charge, the price of cement has risen by over ₹100. Not only cement but steel, sand, and gravel have also become more expensive due to their policies. This is shameful. Instead of easing the burden on disaster victims, the government is making reconstruction more difficult.”
Jairam Thakur questioned the state government’s handling of the crisis, stating that this is the first time he has seen a government using a disaster as an opportunity for financial benefit. He added, “Was this the ‘system change’ that the Chief Minister spoke about – making the common man’s house unaffordable during a time of crisis?”
In his concluding remarks, the Leader of Opposition called the 93,000 homes a historic gift to the people of Himachal Pradesh, reiterating the need for the state government to act in the interest of the disaster-affected population rather than driving up costs further.
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