Chief Minister Harish Rawat has categorically said that since the State Government did not want to lose the opportunity for betterment of Dehradun, it had decided to develop the smart city on the tea estate land. He added that environmentalists and others keep suggesting what not to do but nobody makes suggestions to the Government on what to do and how to go about it.
He pointed out that the BJP keeps blaming the State Government on various fronts but it did not come forward with suggestions on how to make Uttarakhand better than it is now. He reiterated that taking cognisance of the public reaction the Government constituted a separate committee to ascertain the feasibility of smart city planned on on tea estate land. He assured that people would not be evicted unless and until government provides alternate home prior to eviction.
Rawat made these remarks while interacting with media persons at chief minister’s residence here on Sunday afternoon. Replying to media query the CM said that he had decided to have an informal interaction with the media in view of the approaching year end.
Responding to questions regarding the smart city planned on tea gardens despite protests by the public and various bodies, the CM said, “ we did not want to miss the bus and decided to go ahead with this plan as this is a very good opportunity for the people of Dehradun”.
He said, “The price of a house in the planned smart city has been kept lower than the market price which will benefit people who wish to own a house in Dehradun but can’t afford the price. As far as protest is concerned, the BJP blames us alleging apathy towards tea estate workers and encroachment on a green patch of Dehradun. We would ask the opposition and other persons who have been opposing this bid, do they have in mind an alternate place where we can develop the smart cityIJ If anyone has any idea then please come forward and we would welcome their idea if found practical.”
On being asked about the recent government order for print media, Rawat assured that shortly he would invite representatives of all the media organisations and unions to sort out the issue, adding that he would find a solution in a few weeks.
Regarding the parliamentary committee suggestion of holding assembly elections in 2016 in states meant to have elections in a year or two, he said that the as the matter is of the Election Commission of India, the State is bound to go by ECI order. He said that the issue was hypothetical for him with the final call to be taken by ECI.
Replying to a question on corruption, he said, “If you ask a politician to undergo an Agni Pariksha (trial by fire) like goddess Sita had to after returning home from 14-year long Vanwas, then no one will pass the test because in politics you will have to do something wrong somewhere in political career.
On the subject of the CM’s residence, he said that he is a “very small person” who does not want to alter his taste by staying in a big bungalow being a Chief Minister of the State.