Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Forest Environment and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav in New Delhi on Thursday for road, power and ropeway projects in Uttarakhand. He demanded from the Forest Minister to transfer forest land and give environmental clearance for the development projects of the state.
In view of the huge increase in the number of tourists in Chardham Yatra and increasing traffic pressure on the roads of the state, the CM requested Gadkari to approve various projects of top priority. During the discussion, Gadkari agreed to reimburse the amount payable to the state every year in respect of the residual reimbursement under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund. To deal with the traffic pressure in the capital Dehradun, it was decided that the state government will take up the process of land acquisition and forestland transfer for the construction of a total 26 km long elevated road in Bindal River and Rispana River as a loop of National Highway No. 07. The Central Government will bear the remaining amount for the construction if the state government provides exemption in the amount of SGST and royalty payable on the construction cost of Rs 6164 crore. The state government will also provide exemption in the amount of SGST in the additional expenditure of Rs 183 crore in the revised alignment of National Highway No. 109 (old 87) affected by the expansion of Pantnagar Airport and the Center will bear the remaining amount. In the meeting, the Union Minister agreed to get the Khatima ring road constructed through NHAI, the work of widening of NH number-507 Barwala-Katapathar-Juddo-Lakhwar Band division and the work of widening of Dugdda-Gumkhal division of NH number-534. It was agreed to complete the process for transfer of forest land in the alternative alignment of the first part of Rishikesh bypass (from Nepali Farm to Dhalwala) in the next three months. It was decided that the process of tender approval will be done in consultation with the Chief Minister and Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ministry for the construction of Kedarnath Ropeway to be built by National Highways and Logistics Management Limited. Principal Secretary R. K. Sudhanshu, R. Meenakshi Sundaram and Resident Commissioner Ajay Mishra were present on this occasion.
Requested for transfer of forest land and environmental clearance for power projects
The Chief Minister requested Union Forest Minister Bhupendra Yadav to approve the transfer of forest land for Tyuni-Plasu Hydroelectric Project as well as the desired environmental clearance and transfer of forest land for Rupasiyabagh Hydroelectric Project.
The CM said that Uttarakhand has to buy electricity from other states and the central pool for its electrical energy requirements. Construction of new environment-friendly hydroelectric projects is necessary to meet the demand for energy needs. This will provide employment opportunities to the local people and will greatly help in the socio-economic development of the region. The migration problem of the state can also be controlled. The CM requested for early approval of the transfer of 47.547 hectares of forest land and revenue land (barren land) required for the construction of the proposed 72 MW Tyuni-Plasu hydroelectric project on Tons. He said that due to non-approval of the proposed projects on the Ganga river, it is absolutely necessary to construct new power projects on the Yamuna river and on the Gauriganga, Dhauliganga rivers in the Kumaon region.
He requested for early approval of the proposal for the transfer of 29.997 hectares of forest land and the environmental clearance required for the 120 MW Sirkari Bhyol Rupasiyabagh hydroelectric project on the Gauri Ganga river. He requested for approval of the proposal for ropeway development from Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh to Neelkanth Mahadev temple in the meeting of the National Wildlife Board. He said that this scheme will help in the development of religious tourism in the region and reducing the increasing traffic pressure as well as strengthening the local economy. The CM also requested the central government for cooperation for the revival of Chaurasi Kutiya (Beatles Ashram). In view of the seriousness of the increasing incidents of forest fire in the state, he also requested for special assistance of Rs 404 crore under the five-year plan of forest fire management under the CAMPA scheme. The Union Minister assured the Chief Minister of all possible cooperation on all proposals.
