Thursday, 03 October 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The union Parliamentary and Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju urged tourists to visit Uttarakhand but emphasised the importance of keeping the State clean. “Uttarakhand is very beautiful and we should preserve its natural bounty,” he said, calling on visitors not to litter and respect the environment. He stated this in the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 event held in Dehradun on Wednesday. The event marked the joint celebration of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversaries. During his address, Rijiju expressed his deep connection with Uttarakhand, likening it to his home. He recalled his visits to remote areas such as Gunji in Pithoragarh district, where residents had once believed that road construction was impossible.
Rijiju shared how, with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the region now has better road access, benefiting both locals and tourists. He praised the numerous welfare initiatives launched in Uttarakhand under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. These include the Kedarnath reconstruction, the Badrinath master plan, and the Delhi-Dehradun four-lane highway project and adventure tourism activities at Tehri Lake. Rijiju highlighted the importance of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which began on October 2, 2014, with the goal of making India cleaner. He noted that the campaign now focuses on ensuring every family has access to toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal, clean drinking water, and overall village sanitation. Before the main event at Gandhi Park, Rijiju visited the Khadi Gramodyog centre at Kishannagar Chowk, where he spun the traditional Charkha and inspected local village industries. He then headed to Neshvilla Road, where he inspected a local cleanliness service unit and honoured sanitation workers for their dedication.
Rijiju noted the importance of eliminating a 50-year-old garbage site in the area, offering relief to the residents. He also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Gandhi Park and swept a section of the park to promote cleanliness. He also felicitated individuals for their contributions in various fields. Rijiju also spoke about his visits to various scenic locations in Uttarakhand, including Harsil, Chakrata, Niti, Mana, and Auli, reiterating his love for the state’s natural beauty. He encouraged more people to visit but reminded them of the responsibility to keep the surroundings clean. He concluded his visit by paying homage at the Shaheed Smarak, where he honoured the martyrs of the Uttarakhand statehood movement.
