Hill state geography key to development plans: Dhami

Development plans are being prepared in Uttarakhand according to the geographical conditions of the hill state, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Wednesday.

“Uttarakhand is moving towards development. Our government is determined to make Uttarakhand an ideal state by 2025. And we are making development plans according to the geographical conditions of the hill state,” he said while participating in the Har Ghar Tiranga programme organised at the frontier village of Malari in Chamoli district.

Taking part in the meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council with chief ministers and top officials in Delhi on Sunday, Dhami had stressed that the model of development in the Himalayan states should keep in view the local ecology, population density, floating population and environmental sensitivity, which should be based on science and technology.

The chief minister said the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav has become a people’s campaign. “We are all fortunate to be witness to it. India is progressing as a powerful and proud country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

The soldiers of the Indian Army and ITBP (Himveer), Border Roads Organisation (Shivalik) officials and the residents of Malari village participated in the Har Ghar Tiranga programme. People of the villages, such as Kailashpur, Mahargaon, Kosha, Dronagiri, Niti, Bampa, Gamshali, Farkiya, Jhelum, Jumma, Kaga and Garpak, were also present. On the arrival of the chief minister for the first time in the frontier village of Malari, the residents of the area welcomed him with a traditional dance.

“Tricolour is our pride. Today the whole country is remembering the revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country,” the CM said. “All of us are safe only because of the people working as guardians on the borders.” The CM congratulated everyone on the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the Raksha Bandhan festival. Listening to the problems of the residents, he assured them about the restoration of Indramani temple in Malari, Pagoda temple road and improvement of the motorway from Kaga to Garpak. During the programme, the women of the village tied Rakshasutra (Rakshabandhan thread) on the wrist of the chief minister and wished him long life.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister participated in the Sita Mata (Situn) Akhand Mahayagya programme in Baragaon village in Joshimath. Dhami said it was after 42 years the Sita Mata’s Mahayagya was being held in the area. “We are fortunate that we are witnessing it. May blessings of Lord Shri Ram and Mother Sita keep showering on everyone. Funds will be given for the construction of Mata Sita temple in Badagaon.” Dhami said under the Jal Jeevan Mission, drinking water connections have been given to more than 700,000 families in the state.