Sunday, 11 July 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
After making a courtesy visit to the President Ram Nath Kovind, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met about half a dozen Union ministers and discussed various issues and requirements of Uttarakhand.
Meeting Union Home minister Amit Shah, he requested that the centre-state ratio for reimbursement for posting of central security forces during famous fairs and festivals in Uttarakhand should be 90:10 as with North Easternb and special category states. Stating that Uttarakhand shares borders with Nepal and China, he said that remote villages in these areas are being abandoned due to lack of economic opportunities. Removal of inner line restrictions will open tourism opportunities and the resulting economic activity will stall migration. He requested Shah to consider the proposal for removing inner line restriction in the Niti valley in Chamoli district and Nelang valley (Jadung village) in Uttarkashi district. Dhami also requested two air ambulances for the state, establishment of disaster management research institute in the summer capital Gairsain, approval of disaster affected village relocation under state disaster relief fund and a permanent system for declaring persons missing in disasters as dead.
Meeting Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Dhami informed him about the state’s preparations for a possible third Covid wave. Stating that Covid had been brought considerably under control in Uttarakhand, he said that the state government is still alert. Requesting establishment of AIIMS in Kumaon region, he said that the state government will provide land for it.
The chief minister also met the Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Informing him about the state’s achievements in education, he said that the state was ranked fourth in education in the sustainable development goals report 2020-21 and is included in front runner states. He also sought the centre’s cooperation for establishment of virtual classrooms in schools, smart classrooms, e-tablets for students in aspirational districts, teachers real time attendance monitoring system, spoken English programme, virtual reality lab, digital literacy and other initiatives. He also requested the minister to grant approval for establishment of centrally funded Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Uttarakhand.
Meeting the Union minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, the CM requested release of the remaining central share for processing and disposal schemes for eight legacy waste/old dumping sites in seven urban local bodies. Dhami also requested that under Swachchh Bharat Mission II the budget allocation to Uttarakhand for solid waste management projects be raised from Rs 89 crore to Rs 150 crore.Dhami also discussed various issues with the Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union minister of Heavy Industry Mahendra Nath Pandey. Chief secretary Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, additional chief secretary Anand Bardhan and secretary Shailesh Bagauli were also present in the meetings. The CM also met the Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda.
