Think of new ideas to speed development in HP: CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today asked officers to think "out of the box" and be innovative for the speedy development of the state.
The chief minister also said officials should explore sectors in which nothing much had been done and stress should be on easing norms for private players in vital areas such as tourism, sports and power generation.
"We need to do something different, be innovative and think out of the box to speed up development with available resources," he said at meeting of the State Planning Board here.
The board approved a plan of Rs 6,300 crore for 2018-19, against an annual plan of Rs 5,700 crore, an increase of Rs 600 crore.

Thakur asked officers to come out with 13 to 15 new schemes in the Budget Session.
"I know we have limited funds for the same but we can get these projects financed either through funding agencies or with the assistance of the Centre, but we need to conceive new ideas and submit the proposals," he said.
"How can we improve, revamp and strengthen the existing set up, as the need of the hour is to identify such sectors in which we can excel or compete with other states," Thakur said.
The chief minister said the government was announcing and sanctioning schools on need basis and that there was a need to stop haphazard expansion of educational and health institutions.