Maintaining his focus on developmental activities also in the constituency formerly represented by one of his arch rivals and former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, the Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat inaugurated various developmental schemes costing about Rs 665.90 lakh and unveiled the foundation stone for various other developmental works and schemes costing about Rs 567.35 lakh in the Shakti Farm area of Sitarganj on Monday. Rawat laid the foundation for the 120 metre span RCC bridge across Sukhi Nadi at Shakti Farm and a road from Shaktifarm, Teenpani to SIIDCUl apart from inaugurating total 12 kilometre length of roads including stretches of road from Bara to Ajitpur, Ajitpur to Majra, Basgar to Titiliyapur and other connecting roads and a six-metre span conduit bridge
Addressing a large public gathering at Shakti Farm, the Chief Minister averred that the Congress-led State Government wishes to forward the developmental dreams of the State and its people. The CM averred that soon about 80 per cent of the payment to sugar cane farmers in the Sitarganj area will be facilitated. Efforts are also being undertaken for the modernisation of the sugar mills, he said. “When I had assumed the office of Chief Minister, a large part of Uttarakhand had been devastated by the June 2013 disaster but today the State of Uttarakhand has changed. More than 15 lakh people undertook the Char Dham Yatra in the state this year. Such is the level of development achieved in Uttarakhand that it is now counted among the six states considered to have achieved maximum development,” said the Chief Minister. Referring to the various specific issues of the locals, the CM assured them that their issues pertaining to various categories of land will be resolved by the authorities with the process already underway. Changes will be made in the regulations in order to achieve a solution to issues pertaining to lands under category-20, said Rawat. The Chief Minister went on to list the various achievements claimed by the State Government under his leadership including the increase in number of total pension beneficiaries from 1.74 lakh to 7.25 lakh at present. He also spoke of the various schemes being implemented by the Congress-led State Government for the welfare of women, children and various other socio-economic segments of society. The State labour and employment minister Harish Chandra Durgapal and other local public representatives, politicians and public servants were also among those among those present on the occasion.