Rope-way should be included in PMGSY

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met the Vice Chairman of NITI Ayog Rajeev Kumar at CM House on Monday. CM stated that policies should be made as per the conditions of the State. State Government wants to promote organic and horticulture based activities. He added that rope way should be included in PMGSY for the villages of Uttarakhand located in high altitude so that mountains might not be damaged during the roads construction. This scheme should be known as Pradhanmantri Gram Sampark Yojna.

Vice Chairman of NITI Ayog Rajeev Kumar said that direct contact between the NITI Ayog and State Government is must. He came to understand the priorities of State Government. NITI Ayog will take initiative if any project of State Government needed any support from Central Government. Secretary Planning Amit Negi on behalf of State Government made a short presentation on major issues of State Government. State Government also demanded the consultative expertise services for various sectors. Integration of departments, rationalization of state schemes, solid waste management, new tourism spots, home stay, Industrial policy for hills and rope way construction were some major issues. Delaying of projects on account of land transfer issues was also discussed during the meeting.

Forest Secretary Arvind Singh Hayanki said that relaxation is given for compensatory plantation to implement the central projects. Projects of the State should also get relaxations on this basis. State had right of forest land transfer up to 01 hectare in general condition along with up to 05 hectare in disaster affected areas which had ended on November 2016. Increasing the tenure would be justifiable in this context. Green bonus against the eco services was also demanded from NITI Ayog.

Secretary Energy Radhika Jha apprised that 20 percent of whole hydro power production is not being used due to environmental issues. Investment of around Rs 40, 000 crore is being affected by this. Apart from this, officials also took up matters of eco sensitive zones; resettlement of disaster affected 398 villages, air ways development in Gauchar, Nainisaini and Chilyanisaur under the regional connectivity scheme.

Vice Chairman of NITI Ayog expressed interest in Prime Minister Urban Development Housing Scheme. Secretary Urban Development NK Jha informed that survey for Prime Minister Housing Scheme finished by October 31 and about 1.05 lakh families have been marked for the scheme. Targets are being fixed for the banks to encourage their activeness in the scheme.