Talking about his Delhi visit, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said that he met the Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, and explained the State’s expectations from the Union Government. The State has demanded special category status because it has been abolished with the dilution of the Planning Commission. He had also raised the issue while addressing the first meeting of NITI Aayog, which has been constituted in place of the erstwhile Planning Commission by Narendra Modi-led NDA Government.
During the meeting with Jaitley he appealed to the Centre to release Rs500 crore for the preparation of Ardh Kumbh 2016. If Union Government releases the money then the State would expedite the construction of permanent infrastructure in place of temporary. Although CM also made it clear that State has sought financial assistance from the Union Government for the preparation of ardh kumbha but it does not mean that State has slowed down construction work in view of kumbha.
“As we know that it is privilege and honour of State to organise Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh,” the CM said. He said that since the State cannot compromise its natural resources for developmental works, the Centre should provide green bonus to Uttarakhand. Following the smooth flow of Mera Gaanv Meri Sadak, which is being made by the Panchayat upto one kilometer and upto two kilometer by Rural Engineering Service (RES) and more than that road will be made by PWD, State Government is going to appeal their MlA and MP to contribute their local area fund in it. It means MP/MlA can build road under this scheme and its 40 per cent expense will be borne by the MP/MlA and remaining 60 per cent by the State Government itself.