Mandi, April 12: Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut on Saturday chaired a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) to review the status of Central Government-sponsored schemes across the district, affirming her commitment to ensuring timely implementation with full cooperation extended to the state government.
Ranaut said key infrastructure projects must adhere to timelines, with particular attention on the Kiratpur-Manali and Mandi-Pathankot four-lane highways being built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). She also reviewed the Hamirpur-Mandi via Kotli two-lane road under development by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
“All issues faced by the local population during construction should be resolved promptly, and the projects must stay on schedule,” Ranaut directed.
She expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of the NHAI Project Director from the meeting.
The MP further reviewed road and bridge projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Phase-III and Central Road Fund (CRF), urging the Public Works Department to avoid delays and expedite progress.
Addressing environmental concerns, Ranaut called on departments to raise public awareness and encourage community involvement in proper waste disposal practices in both rural and urban areas.
She also instructed the Sports Department to submit a detailed report under the Khelo India programme to expand sports facilities and opportunities in the region.
Under the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme and other centrally funded programmes routed through the state, Ranaut emphasized the need for timely updates and clear communication on issues raised during the meeting.
On a separate note, she raised concern over a sudden spike in her personal electricity bill, saying, “I am not running a factory in my house for which I’ve received a bill of around Rs 1 lakh. It’s very strange—until last year, my bill never exceeded Rs 5,000, and now it’s suddenly touching a lakh.”
“Politics should not be done on electricity bills,” she added, noting the issue deserves a transparent explanation.
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