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The CM took to task each and every government official or elected representative with whom he interacted live over Himachal Pradesh State Wide Area Network (HIMSWAN), as a room full of bureaucrats who were present at the Secretariat for the launch of the network watched. The issues ranged from construction of a rest house to giving relief to farmers whose crops were damaged in the monsoon. As the CM was put online over the HIMSWAN (in a video conference) to the Naib-Tehsildar at Dadahu in Sirmour district, no one could have imagined what course the interaction would take. “How many land record mutations have been executed by you during your tenure?” inquired Dhumal. Dumfounded by the unexpected query, the official replied, “Only 20 are left for execution.” But the CM insisted on knowing how many were executed, to which the Naib Tehsildar meekly responded, “About 200 to 300.” As this did not satisfy the CM, he directed the DC, Sirmour, to give him a report of the actual work executed by the naib-tehsildar within 24 hours.
Next on line was SDM, Sarkaghat, who was pulled up by the CM for delay in construction of the Mini-Secretariat building. “When will the work be completed?” asked Dhumal and as the SDM replied, the CM was quick to snub him, saying, “When I was there on January 25 you told me three months and now it has been increased by a month.”
The CM also interacted with the Bilaspur DC and village pradhan of Dadaur panchayat under Sarkaghat sub-division in Mandi district, who were also taken aback by the queries from the CM.
However, even Dhumal was caught off-guard when he was suddenly put on line to the former headmaster of Toni Devi School in Hamirpur, Govind Ram Arya, who had headed the school when Dhumal was a student of Class IX there. Starting on an emotional note, the conversation ended soon after exchanging pleasantries.
The government has not yet set out a strict timetable for such surprise stock-taking by the CM, but a strong message has certainly been sent across today.


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