Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna laid the foundation for developmental works and inaugurated completed projects in Kotdwar on Tuesday. He inaugurated the library building in lansdowne forest division costing Rs 63.60 lakh, the 300 metre double lane RCC bridge across the Sukhro river on the Kaudia-Motadhak motor road costing Rs 1,166 lakh.
He also laid the foundation for the base hospital expected to cost Rs 3159 lakh, construction of roads and drains in Jasodapur costing Rs 950 lakh, a 60 metre steel garter bridge on Malan river at Chandpur costing Rs 19.81 lakh, road works in Kotdwar costing Rs 693 lakh and various other developmental works slated to cost crores of rupees.Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that after passing through the disaster in June, the State was now passing through the stage of redevelopment.
“The disaster damaged 400 bridges, 4,200 villages killed more than 900 people of Uttarakhand apart from many others from other States. The Government of India is providing adequate support to the State in order to help it overcome such massive damage,” said Bahuguna. The CM expressed gratitude to the armed forces, NGOs, police, traders and locals for the role they had played in the relief operations after the disaster. He said that the rescue of 1.30 lakh people after the disaster was the biggest such rescue operation carried out.
A total sum of Rs 350 crore had been distributed as compensation to the disaster affected families, he averred. In addition to this the State government will provide a fixed deposit of Rs one lakh for marriageable women. The CM also informed the public about the various other measures being taken by the government to provide relief to the disaster affected people of Uttarakhand. He pointed out that after repair of the damaged roads, the prayers were resumed in all the Char Dham shrines following the disaster. For mitigation of disaster, Ecotask Force will be established at Rudraprayag and Bageshwar with 50 per cent reservation for women. Requesting the government employees to desist from going on strike, Bahuguna said that strike by government employees creates major inconvenience for the public. He said that 12 trauma centres will be opened in the State to improve the medical health system. The CM also directed officials to work efficiently to execute various government schemes for public welfare effectively.The Kotdwar MlA and State Health minister Surendra Singh Negi welcomed the CM’s step to categorise Kotdwar as a class C city. He also raised various issues and demands related to his constituency.