Roads are fundamental to development. Quality and time bound construction and repair need to be ensured, said the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna while presiding over a meeting held with the officials of the Forest Department and National Highways Authority. He also gave them directions on better coordination.
The CM reviewed the proposal and construction of National Highways in Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. He asked everyone to work with a positive attitude.
Bahuguna said that that in order to resolve the objections raised by the forest department, the officials of the two organisations should work together and look for suitable solutions. He added that work should begin on proposals that had received consent from the Union Government.
It was disclosed that the road from Jaspur to Kashipur has got approval of `18 crore, while repair work had to be done on the road from Doraha to Sitarganj.
One part of the Haridwar- Dehradun National Highway passes through the Rajaji National Park. Thus, an MoU has to be signed between the Forest Department and National Highways Authority. Trees need to be felled for the construction of a four-lane National Highway.
The CM has given directions to forest officers to provide Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited with a schedule and asked it to ensure electricity shut down while cutting trees. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest RBS Rawat, Principal Secretaries SS Sandhu, S Ramaswamy, and other officials were also present in the meeting.