PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
The Sthayi Rajdhani Gairsain Samiti on Friday announced a public awareness Padyatra in Dehradun to press for the long-pending demand for declaring Gairsain as the permanent capital of Uttarakhand.
Addressing a press conference at the Uttaranchal Press Club, members of the committee alleged that even after 25 years of Uttarakhand’s formation, the successive governments have failed to grant full-fledged capital status to Gairsain despite the strong sentiments remaining attached to it in those who had spear-headed the statehood movement.
Speaking of the issue, the convenor of the committee and former IAS officer Vinod Raturi said that the governments function mainly from Dehradun while the hill regions continue to stagnate, resulting in unemployment and migration. “We are not happy with Gairsain being declared only as the summer capital. This is not in line with the original aspirations, which fuelled the Uttarakhand statehood movement,” he said.
Raturi also raised concerns over increasing urban pressure on Dehradun and alleged that issues such as unplanned development, land-related irregularities and growing influence of mafias were stripping it of its earlier image as a tranquil city.
The committee further took strong exception to the alleged leasing of the land connected to the historic George Everest House premises to private entities, calling it an issue linked to Uttarakhand’s identity and heritage.
Sharing details of the proposed Padyatra, committee member Rakesh Dhyani announced that it would be held on May 31 from 8 AM onwards. “The march will begin from Parade Ground and pass through various parts of the city to spread awareness regarding the demand for Gairsain as the permanent capital,” he said.
