Tuesday, 15 June 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat disussed various issues of the state with a number of union ministers in the national Capital on Monday.Meeting the union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he said that work on various development schemes is underway at a swift pace under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance in Uttarakhand. He said that the state had to suffer revenue loss following implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) due to which the centre had approved GST compensation for the state. However, the duration of this compensation is to end in 2022. Considering the effect of Covid-19 on the state’s economy and its limited financial resources, he requested Sitharaman to extend the compensation period by five years from June 2022.
Rawat also meet the union Textiles, Women and Child Development minister Smriti Irani. The duo had a special discussion on the folk art of Aipan. Irani said that focus should be laid on developing Aipan on the lines of Madhubani art. Linking it with textile, special focus should be laid on exporting it too, she said. There was also talk of encouraging the state’s organic products.Further, handloom fairs should be held in each district from August 1 to 7 which should be linked to local products and e-commerce. Similarly, textile fairs should also be held from August 1 to 15 to benefit the local craftsmen. The union minister said that she would herself visit the textile fair. Rawat also informed her about the Mukhyamantri Vatsalya Yojana and the various schemes implemented in the state for women and child development. Appreciating the importance of one-stop centre, she said that all those in need should benefit from it.
While meeting the Union minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan the chief minister requested that the city gas distribution project be extended to Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital city areas. He also sought upgradation of the ONGC hospital in Dehradun to a 500-bed facility. The minister directed officials of the ministry to look into this possibility. Rawat also cited the difficult geographic terrain of the state’s mountainous areas to request the monthly demand of kerosene allocation of 1,185 KL. Pradhan assured all possible assistance to the state.
Meeting the Union minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, the chief minister discussed the subject of sports development in Uttarakhand in detail. He requested that under the Khelo India scheme, the Khelo India state level centre and sports science centre be constructed at the sports college in Dehradun. At least one Khelo India small centre should be opened in each of the 13 districts, he said. A high altitude training centre will be established at the Ransi stadium in Pauri district while a Yoga centre will be established at the summer capital Gairsain. Further, sports training centres will be established at Dharchula in Pithoragarh district and Nanakmatta in Udham Singh Nagar district.
Chief secretary Om Prakash, secretaries Amit Singh Negi, Radhika Jha, Shailesh Bagauli and Brijesh Sant were also present with the chief minister during the meetings.
