Monday, 07 June 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Seeks AIIMS branch in Kumaon & medical college in Kotdwar
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat met various Union ministers during his visit to the national Capital on Sunday. Meeting the Union Health and Family Welfare minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Rawat requested that a branch of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) be established in the Kumaon region in addition to a medical college in Kotdwar. Vardhan assured Rawat of appropriate action in this regard.
The chief minister also met the Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh and thanked him for the establishment of one temporary Covid-care centre each in Rishikesh and Haldwani through Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Stating that these Covid care centres have all necessary facilities, he said that these are major development in Uttarakhand’s health sector. Referring to the importance of Uttarakhand, Singh said that the border areas of the state are also strategically important. He assured all possible help from the centre to the state. Rawat then met the chief of defence staff, general Bipin Rawat. The duo discussed aspects related to encouraging defence and aerospace manufacturing in the state. A delegation from Uttarakhand will soon meet the chief of defence staff in this regard.
Meeting the Union minister of State for Power, New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, the chief minister informed him about the works done in green energy sector by encouraging solar and pine needle projects by linking these to employment generation. Rawat said that the state is committed to environmentally sustainable energy development. He requested that a new policy/guidelines be framed for the MNRE providing grant for construction and development of small hydro power projects. He also sought case to case basis viability funding for under construction projects like the 120 MW Vyasi project considering the high tariff. Singh also assured all possible assistance from the Centre to the State government.
The chief minister also met the Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. He informed the minister that under the Jal Jeevan mission more than 6.60 lakh drinking water connections have been provided in the state. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced this mission in 2019, the personal domestic water connections in Uttarakhand were eight per cent which have now increased to 45 per cent. The chief minister also requested Shekhawat for the cabinet committee’s permission for the Lakhwad project. The central government will provide all possible help to the state government, assured the Union minister.
