Chief Minister Harish Rawat made it clear on Tuesday that his Government would not back out of the Smart City project in the face of stiff opposition from several political parties and social activists.
He said while talking to the media persons that implementation of the project would gain full steam after the 2017 Assembly election, a statement that reveals his confidence of getting re-elected.
“At the initial stage, it would be a model city. But it would be expanded further after the Assembly election 2017 is over,” he said, making it clear that his government is bent on pushing through the project in full measure, taking the criticism in its stride.
However, the protest against the project continues with those opposed to it saying that the State Government is hell-bent on grabbing 2,300 acres of tea plantation land to facilitate the project.
Once this happens Dehradun would be robbed of the only green space it has, they say, adding that it would deplete groundwater further, imperiling the future of the city.
However, CM rubbished the charge, saying that just 300 acres of land are being used for the model city project.
“When the people would be convinced of how the area gets developed by the implementation of the project things would be expanded, with the people being taken on the board after the election is over in 2017,” he added.