Chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh has now directed that the debris resulting from excavations for roads under the all-weather road project should be disposed of properly as per the regulations. He directed the executing agencies that under no circumstances should the muck be dumped in river area. The chief secretary said this while chairing a meeting to review progress in the ambitious all-weather road project here on Thursday.
Interacting with the district magistrates concerned, Singh sought details about the work packages being undertaken with an approved sum of about Rs 11,700 crore. These include the 140 kilometre Rishikesh-Rudraprayag stretch, 160 kilometre Rudraprayag-Mana stretch, 144 kilometre Rishikesh-Dharasu, 124 kilometre Dharasu-Gangotri, 95 kilometre Dharasu-Yamunotri, 76 kilometre Rudraprayag-Gaurikund and 150 kilometre Tanakpur-Pithoragarh stretch.
He directed the executing agencies to ensure that as per the conditions stated in the tender, the muck disposal should be ensured at the designated dumping zones. He also directed the district magistrates to consistently monitor this. Addressing officials of the agencies including national highway Public Works Department, Border Roads Organisation, he said that work underway in 22 of the 37 approved projects should be completed on a war-footing. He also said that a date should be fixed for securing the approval for the remaining works under the all-weather road project. During the meeting, the additional chief secretary Om Prakash informed that under the project 80 per cent land transfer and 81 per cent forest land transfer has been completed. Works on 632 kilometres of the total 889 kilometres in the project have been approved. The forest department was directed to undertake necessary action regarding the 94 kilometre stretch of the road in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone.
The chief secretary also discussed in detail the problems being faced in utility shifting and directed officials of the Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited, Peyjal Nigam and other officials concerned to complete the task of utility shifting on a war-footing to ensure that pilgrims and tourists do not face inconvenience in accessing these facilities.
He further said that the Government of India has granted approval to 13 more packages under the project for which the tender process is underway. A monitoring committee has been formed for cases related to the eco-sensitive zone. Executing agency officials were directed to present the affected cases to the monitoring committee. Reviewing the shifting of power lines, he said that remaining lines and electricity poles should be shifted by April 20. On the subject of potable water, the Jal Sansthan general manager SK Sharma informed that temporary water supply lines have been facilitated according to the site requirement in areas under 24 potable water schemes affected by the project.