In a bid to expedite the flood control projects, which keep pending before the Union water resource ministry and to build roads across the State, the Chief Minister Harish Rawat met the Union ministers Uma Bharti and Nitin Gadkari in Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting, the CM is understood to have appealed to Bharti to clear the pending projects involving an estimated Rs350 crore at the earliest. He also is said to have stressed that if the Union Government is intent on keeping Yamuna river clean the Kisau project involving Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Jamrani power project involving Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, should be executed promptly.
Although the State Government has completed 40 percent of the works, under its aegis the Union government is yet to complete things that are within its purview. He also reiterated that if the Union Government nods positively the State would plunge headlong into building few more dams over Yamuna river in the state. Giving the CM a patient hearing, Bharti is understood to have assured him all possible help to the State. The Ganga flood control commission, Indian government was presented with several programs held by Uttrakhand under centrally sponsored flood control program. Out of which, 17 projects worth Rs498.16 crore are still pending with TSC. Thus it is requested to release this through GFCC. The investment clearance is expected from Planning commission. Union government has also been presented with proposal for 54 projects worth Rs 657.79 crore of rehabilitation project of flood affected areas under CSR. The funds for these also have to be released. The CM informed her about the 26 projects worth Rs62.24 crore under the AIBP program which have been presented to the Central Government. The Indian Government in the year 2013-14 has sanctioned 33 projects worth Rs111.88 crore. He has requested for the allocation of its funds at the earliest.
During the meeting with Gadkari, the CM stressed on the money being reimbursed which was used up by the State Government through its personal resources during Uttarakhand’s disaster contingency. He also stressed on the stretch from Haridwar- Roshanabad-Bandarjoor-Buggawala-Biharigarh (30 Kms) and Marchula-Bhikiyasen-Chaukuthiya-Khirakhnasar-Baachboond-Mahalachorh be declared as National Highway since that would help in decongestion and ensure organised traffic movement. During the meeting with Gadkari, the CM broached the subject of the state roads. He said that with the National Highway running within the boundaries in Uttarakhand getting damaged every year, the Union Government should substantially peg up the repair fund. He also asked them to give additional Rs50 crore by way of annual fund for the repair work involving the National Highway.
last year, the BRO and NHAI were unable to repair the important roads leading to Char Dham. Thus these roads were repaired by the State Government, using its own resources. A total of Rs37.18 crores for different National Highways under BRO and Rs13.77 crores for construction of NH-58 from Manglour to Nepali Farm under NHAI had been spent. CM demanded the amount be reimbursed by the Union ministry for road and transport. The CM also requested for speedy sanction of Central Road Fund Proposals worth Rs25.47 crore which had been sent to the Union ministry of road transport and highways.
The CM drew attention to the requirement of repair of the National Highway from Tanakpur to Pithoragarh which is in a bad condition. He requested Gadkari to declare the Haridwar-Roshanbad-Bandarjoor-Buggawala-Biharigarh strech as National Highway to avoid congestion and ensure free flow of vehicles during the Ardha (half) Kumbh to be held in Haridwar in 2016.