With the Chief Minister Harish Rawat having launched wi-fi service of geonet in Mussoorie on Wednesday, queen of hills has strode into digital era. Other cities will also have the same facility in the coming days, CM assured, adding that his Government is committed to develop Uttarakhand as a smart State. The CM dedicated this to the martyrs who faced police bullets while demanding Uttarakhand being carved out of Uttar Pradesh. Wednesday was the anniversary of the infamous Mussoorie Goli Kand. “We are fulfilling the dream of the martyrs. We would build martyrs’ memorial cum museum here at the holy spot reddened with the blood of the martyrs,” he said.
“Mussoorie being a tourist destination, the state government is planning to add to its attraction. However, all residents must come forward. MDDA is executing beautification work and Municipality is also doing the same as per their resources. But now, there is a need to have three- tier partnerships. Development requires participation of everyone. MDDA has completed ten such projects and six are in progress. A drinking water project worth Rs 35 crore is coming up. Besides, we would expand Shahid Sthal (martyrs’ memorial),” CM said.
On this occasion, he inaugurated and laid foundations of 24 development projects. He exhorted MDDA to expedite the construction of Town Hall in Mussoorie and a parking slot. Dwelling on the upcoming civil hospital, he assured that fund would not be allowed to come in the way.
Stressing on the principle of look Towards Mountain (lTM), CM said the government is doing everything to stop migration of the people from the hill areas. “We have made intensive plans and once it is implemented migration would be part of history in the next four years,” he said.
Referring to the state’s economic problem in implementing development projects, he said earlier they were getting Central assistance in Centrally aided projects on 90:10 ratio. “But now it is 50:50 on the basis of state’s performance. This is a grave challenge and we must rise to it. We have achieved much in terms of per capita income over 15 years since the state came up. Tourism sector is looking up. We are implementing things in the hills whose positive results would be discernible in a few years,” CM said.
State sports minister Dinesh Aggrawal said that his ministry would do everything for the betterment of Mussoorie. “ We will include Mussoorie in National Games-2018. My ministry will build a multiplex stadium here,” he added.