Union Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta said that considering the importance of the border area, the Central Government has upgraded various roads in Almora and Pithoragarh into national highways. Various roads in the region are being developed as part of the all-weather road project. He said this while talking to media persons at the Parvati Prema Jagati Saraswati Vihar here on Sunday.
The Minister said that the Union Government was according special focus on development of roads in Almora and Pithoragarh in view of the importance of such border regions. Work on the Tanakpur-Lipulekh, Karnprayag-Baijnath, Sama-Jauljivi and Askot-Lipulekh roads among others is being undertaken as part of the all-weather road project.
By including these roads in the national highway network, the cost of repair work is also being borne by the Union Government.
Tamta further said that the Government will soon complete the formalities for construction of the Pancheshwar dam project. Talking about his own ministry, he said that after agriculture, the ministry of textiles is the biggest provider of employment. The Centre is opening centres of excellence in Himalayan states to encourage handloom and handicrafts.
In Uttarakhand, one such centre is being opened in Almora where machines have also been installed at a cost of about Rs 10 crore. The State Government is working on establishment of textile parks at Sitarganj, Kashipur and Jaspur. The Union Government will provide all possible assistance to the State Government for this purpose, added the Minister.