Hydro projects in Spiti top priority: Virbhadra Singh

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Saturday said more micro and mini hydropower projects would be set up in Spiti Valley to usher an era of prosperity and provide employment opportunities to the youth of the area.

"The government will take consent of the locals before allowing the projects to set up," the chief minister said at a public meeting here.

Virbhadra Singh is touring Lahaul-Spiti district for the first time since assuming office Dec 25 in his latest stint.

The chief minister said equitable and balanced development of tribal areas and welfare of tribal people was the top priority. He said the pace of development would be accelerated, which had come to a standstill during the previous BJP regime.

"The Congress governments have always accorded priority for development of tribal and difficult areas of the state and the Spiti Valley is one of them," he said.

He said the road from Sumdoh to Kaza was being widened by the Border Roads Organisation on priority.

Local legislator Ravi Thakur demanded pollution-free hydel power projects in the valley.

The entire Spiti Valley, comprising more than two dozen small, scattered villages, is a sanctum sanctorum of ancient Buddhist monasteries.