his government will focus on self-employment and self-dependence What is the primary reason for your return to power in Himachal Pradesh this time?
It is due to the work done in my earlier tenure in 1998-2003 and also due to the total failure of the Congress which was in power. People made comparisons between the two tenures and voted us back to power.
What will be the priorities of the new government?
To provide a clean and transparent government. Besides working for the all-round development of the state, the government will provide work to the youth. While last time our thrust was on communication, education and health sectors, this time it will shift to self-employment and self-dependence.
Himachal Pradesh is under a huge debt of Rs 22,000 crore. How do you propose to bring it down?
This debt cannot be brought down overnight. Our effort will be to generate resources and cut down wasteful expenditure. To do this, we will have to invite the private sector to play an important role and share social responsibility by promoting education, communication and healthcare facilities.
The outgoing government held talks with World Bank officials in Washington late last year in an effort to reduce this debt burden. Will the new government continue the dialogue process or hold fresh talks with the World Bank?
We will continue with what is in the state's interests. We will study the loan proposals and conditions. The foreign loan grants will be welcome.
You have just altered the power policy with reference to awarding work of mid-size hydel projects from 5 Mw to 100 Mw...
Earlier, these were awarded on a discretionary basis and, therefore, were not transparent. Now the discretion part will be done away with so that the power policy becomes far more transparent. According to the altered power policy, whoever pays more upfront money will get the hydel project work.
The state has a quarter of the country's hydel power potential at 21,000 Mw. How much of this do you target tapping in the next five years?
So far, 6,500 Mw has been harnessed. We are targeting to raise this to 12,000 Mw by 2012. Power generation will be carried out on a war-footing, which will help us in resource mobilisation. Power alone currently brings in Rs 1,464 crore per annum to the state exchequer.
Himachal Pradesh has attracted proposed industrial investments to the tune of Rs 26,000 crore after the excise holiday announced by the NDA government in 2003. But the rate of investment has slowed down considerably in the last one year or so. How do you intend speeding this up?
Again, during the last five years, had the government provided industrial plots along with the necessary facilities, more investors would have come in.
The industry is demanding better infrastructure, particularly in and around the Baddi industrial cluster, such as better roads and housing.
Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Association has been asked to widen the roads within this cluster and also the road from Baddi to Nalagarh and the one connecting Chandigarh.
Industry so far is only confined to the edge of the state. How do you plan to move industry to the heart of the state?
Lack of infrastructure is the reason why the industry isn't able to move deeper into the state. I recently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and requested them for developing a couple of long-pending railway lines in the state, which will help industry move to other areas.
The Himachal government is considered one of the most overstaffed among all state governments. This is a huge drain on the state's exchequer and also affects the efficiency of the government. Any administrative reform on the cards?
There are no immediate plan to cut jobs. But performance will be monitored and rewarded. Merit and accountability will be strictly followed in promotions and postings.
What is your stand on the SEZ issue?
No agriculture land will be taken over, only barren land will be considered for developing SEZs.
Can you make your position clear on the $300 million Ford Ski Village proposed at Manali?
Until now, there has been no transparency in project on the part of Ford company. The project is supposed to be worth of Rs 3,600 crore, but according to the documents we have seen, it works out to only Rs 600 crore and Ford's investment is barely Rs 300 crore. We need to know from where the rest of the money is coming. Also, the environment safety factors need to be looked into.
Unemployment is a major area of concern for the youth in the state. How does your government intend to generate jobs?
We want to create self-employment and job opportunities for our youths in and around their villages in untapped sectors like horticulture, floriculture and herbiculture. These sectors need to be diversified. Himachal has the country's 7.32 per cent bio-diversity, which can be tapped and exported.
Encroachment of virgin forest land by farmers, particularly in the apple belt, is a regular feature. How will the government stop this.
Encroachments will not be allowed. The government will not spare the big fish and the forest land encroached by farmers will be taken over by the government.
I remember your last interview as outgoing chief minister in this very house. When you were asked "Where from now after this sprawling colonial bungalow?", you had replied, "To the MLA flat now". But fate has brought you back to the same house. Your comments.
I have always adjusted in all circumstances. I will try to do my job honestly.
