Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna convened a meeting with his officials on Saturday, taking cognisance of Union Minister Harish Rawat’s letter. Rawat had expressed disappointment over delay in allocation of land for National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalion and ESIC Hospital & Medical College in Haridwar.
In a four-page answer, CM Bahuguna replied all queries raised by the Union Cabinet Minister. He reiterated that the dispensation would not create any hurdle for overall development of the State.
Political analysts believe that for the first time since March 2012, Bahuguna has adopted a tit-for-tat policy to deal with the Union Minister, who quite often creates problems for the state. The Pioneer has a copy of the letter.
Bahuguna has written that the State Government has already identified 26.555 hectares in laksar, Haridwar. NDRF officials have visited the site and the State has assured the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) that they will provide the necessary resources for establishment of one company each in Srinagar Garhwal and Almora.
“On April 2, 2013, Secretary of Disaster Management met with NDMA member. So your allegation that the State Government has not provided land would be totally incorrect. The State has allocated land for NDRF and now the ball is in the court of NDMA,” notes the CM.
The letter further reads, “For establishment of a nursery, the State Government has shortlisted 11 acres in Haridwar. The district administration has intimated the Union Agriculture Ministry.”
Bahuguna has also pointed out that land at Gangalahari has been marked for establishment of a national flower directorate in Uttarakhand.
He added that the Agriculture Research Centre Director General has been intimated but no reply has come from that side.
According to Bahuguna, 45 acres in Missapur village has been identified for establishment of an Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and the proposal awaits final approval from the ESIC head office in Delhi. The State labour Minister has sent a letter to the Centre.
Meanwhile, for the ESIC hospital and dispensary, land has been allocated at SIIDCUl Haridwar, Sela Qui, Dehradun; Sahastradhar road, Dehradun and Kichha Udhamsinghnagar.
The CM said the government was unaware of the nursing college proposed for Roorkee. Under a Centrally-sponsored scheme, nursing colleges will be set up in Roshnabad, Haridwar. For Unani college, the State has decided to convert an older community health centre in Bhagwanpur.
Bahuguna reiterated that land for Central Sugarcane Research Institute has been inspected by Union Government officials.
For laying of the Deoband Roorkee railway line, the State Government has acquired four out of nine proposed villages. State officials are in touch with the Railway Ministry for the sharing of funds. Considering the State’s limited financial resources, it wants the Union Railway Ministry to bear expenses for acquisition of land.
Bahuguna emphasised that land for the Haridwar Roorkee gas pipeline had been allocated. He reiterated that his dispensation would not create any hurdles in the overall development of the State.