Even as a question mark is being placed on whether the Namami Gange Programme will actually succeed, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat tells ‘Developing India Mirror’ Correspondent Sanjay Pathak how his regime is comprehending pitfalls and overcoming hurdles that lie along the welfare path
Q. Your state has the most crucial role vis-à-vis the Programme. What is the nature of related challenges?
A. The tendering process is complete barring two to three places. The largest hurdle is excess water in the rivers. Bulk of the work is on the Ganga’s banks – for instance laying of ghats cannot be executed during the monsoon and receding of water level becomes imperative. The Chandi Ghat is an example.
Q. No fresh tax was imposed this time through the State Budget. In such circumstances, how will development funds be arranged?
A. Yes, no new levy was introduced. In fact, cess on fuel was reduced.
Q. In this situation how shall the expenditure on education, health, agriculture, etc. be met?
A. The state’s own income is approximately Rs. 19,000 cr. The Centre is providing substantial assistance in almost all sectors including academics, health, farming, power and cooperatives. We are simultaneously endeavouring to enhance revenue collection and hope that will be achieved this time.
Q. How are you planning to increase the receipts?
A. A part of it shall be through plugging leakage.
Q. Please elaborate.
A. Earnings used to go to the pockets of the mafia which had infiltrated the mining sphere. We have checked this and results came to the fore.
Q. How shall Goods and Service Tax benefit Uttarakhand?
A. We will gain on account of being a consumer state. Speaking of transport, an augmentation of Rs. 31 cr. was recorded in a period of three months while the corresponding figure in mines is around Rs. 30-35 cr. Mining could be undertaken for merely 14 days this time as there was a ban in the context of the Ganga. Likewise, it is hoped that power sector income will increase. The data is awaited.
Q. The Char Dham Yatra lends your state a special identity. What is the pilgrim figure this time?
A. More than 20 lakh devotees offered worship within a period of 41 days alone while as many pilgrims came in the course of the entire past year. This is a tremendous achievement.
Q. The Yatra route is hazardous; several natural calamities occur and at times the circuit gets blocked. What is your government doing to mitigate that?
A. The black spots were identified and there is a dual system at those places owing to presence of the Public Works Department (P.W.D) and the Border Road Organisation (B.R.O). Heavy machines, labourers and State Disaster Response Fund (S.D.R.F) teams are stationed at landslide-prone locations. Doctors are also available. That is why this time the path remained open throughout.
Q. Uttarakhand’s glaciers are melting and snowfall has diminished. Drying up of Nainital Lake is threatening its very existence.
A. Paucity of water there is an aspect of an ongoing study and a sum of Rs. 3 cr. was sanctioned by us. It appears that the lake is used for supplying local hotels round the clock. We are awaiting confirmation. The natural replenishment angle is also being looked into by experts.
Q. So who is responsible of the lake plight?
A. Until now, the P.W.D. was in charge. Following a review, I handed it over to the Irrigation Department.
Q. How does your regime plan to combat encroachment on rivers and nullahs?
A. Instructions were issued to district-level officers in the danger zones beside these water bodies. Encroachment was removed at numerous places.
Q. What about infringement on roads?
A. A campaign is underway and commenced in the state capital but was halted for the duration of the monsoon. The drive was extended to Haridwar whereas Udham Singh Nagar and others will be brought under its purview.
Q. Outline the accomplishments of your government.
A. The greatest one was regarding the Muzaffarnagar-Deoband-Roorkee railway line, which has been approved and is expected to be operational next year. Consequently, about two hours’ travel time – from Delhi to Dehradun or Haridwar – shall be saved. Airports in Gauchar, Chinyalisond, Pithoragarh and Pantnagar are being made ultramodern. Besides making Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport an international one, Almora’s Chaukhutiya airstrip is being developed. This shall serve to boost Kumaon Division’s tourism and will also have strategic implications. Surveys are being carried out for a rail line till Badrinath, Karnaprayag to Sonprayag, Tanakpur and Ramnagar to Bageshwar.
We are not blessed adequately with institutions of higher technical learning though the system up to intermediate level is extremely good and degrees can also be earned. A National Institute of Fashion Technology, Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Advanced Technology – an I.I.T.-level facility – and a Hospitality Centre will complete our requirement. The Srinagar Medical College is in the final phase. A proposal has been dispatched to the Army regarding the Almora Medical College. There is a dearth of doctors; only 33 of roughly 125 radiologists’ posts are occupied. We have discussed – with Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat – appointment of retired Army medical specialists. Thirty-five hospitals were connected through teleradiology. Radiology reports, which used to take more than 24 hours in coming, will be obtainable in 40 minutes. A decision was taken in favour of generic medicines.
A total Rs. 200 cr. is to be expended to create reservoirs so that the state does not face scarcity for five decades. Efforts are on to identify 13 more tourist spots.
The greatest one was regarding the Muzaffarnagar-Deoband-Roorkee railway line, which has been approved and is expected to be completed next year. Consequently, about two hours’ travel time – from Delhi to Dehradun or Haridwar – shall be saved