Tuesday, 04 April 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Vows to double the GSDP of State in five years, pitches for more central funds
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday. In the meeting which lasted for about an hour, discussions on various development projects and the central assistance were held between the two leaders. Dhami requested the PM that the financial approval for the Jamrani dam multipurpose project should be given by the cabinet committee on economic affairs. He also requested that a Vande Bharat express train should start between Haridwar and Varanasi. This rail service would be beneficial for the pilgrims and tourists. Dhami said that in view of the success of the import of 240 Merino sheep from Australia under the National Livestock Mission in the year 2019, the State has submitted a proposal to import 500 more sheep from Australia which will help in production of 500 metric tonnes of good quality wool.
He said that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has approved a sum of Rs 280 crore from setting up poly-houses in the State and to encourage the production of apple, a sum of Rs 35 crore has been earmarked. The State is encouraging production of kiwi, dragon fruit and strawberries also. He requested the PM that the central government should approve the proposal of Rs 249.529 crore under National Bee and Honey Mission (NBHM). The expected central assistance in the project is Rs 203.391 crore. Dhami said that the project would provide direct benefit to 45,000 bee keepers in the State. He also requested that the air services from the Naini Saini airport in Pithoragarh should commence and in view of its expansion, the airport should be handed over to the Indian Air Force.
The CM also requested that approval to complete all the 473 remaining works till March 2024 should be given under the PMGSY I and II. Under the project a total of 3200 km of roads would be constructed in the State with an estimated budget of Rs 2,900 crore.
The CM told the PM that the State has launched the Empowered Uttarakhand mission under which the State government is planning to double its GSDP from existing Rs 2.75 lakh crore to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in next five years.
He said that the Mckinsey Global firm is preparing a strategy to achieve this target while focussing on tourism, agriculture, health, industries, education and service sectors. He said that work in Har Ki Paidi and Rishikesh corridors is going on and Musapani near Mana village in Chamoli would be developed on the lines of Navavet in Gujarat.
The CM also brought into the notice of PM the Manaskhand Mandir Mala mission under which 48 temples of Kumaon region are covered. He said that the Uttarakhand government has set up the State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand- SETU on the lines of Niti Aayog . Under the new policy of start-up a venture fund of Rs 2,000 crore has been set up. The State is also promoting solar power production and has planned to develop a capacity of generating 250 MW of electricity till the year 2027.
The CM invited Modi for the Yatra of Char Dham, Adi Kailash and Mayawati Ashram. Dhami presented a Shawl, a coffee table book (CFT) on successful hosting of G20 event, millets and a replica of Jageshwar dham to the PM
