CM asks Union Min to upgrade UK’s state highway to NH

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting, the progress of Char Dham All Weather Road was discussed. The CM also requested to convert some of the state highways along with the Ramnagar-Karanprayag State Highway to National Highway. The CM apprised the Union Minister that the construction work of All Weather Road was in progress.

During the meeting, the CM also discussed to operate Sea-Plane scheme in Uttarakhand. Sea-plane scheme could be started in Tehri and Nainital lakes along with major rivers in Uttarakhand with the help of Central Government. Lakhwar Vyasi project and Kishau Dam project are being supported positively by the Central Government. He said that out of 70 projects, on Alaknanda & Bhagarathi Rivers, 33 Hydro Electric Projects (total capacity about 4060 MW, estimated investment cost Rs. 41000 Crore) are on hold as per the directive of NGRBA, Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone Notification. The CM requested for joint affidavit of Ministry of Power, Ministry of Water resource and Ministry of Environment and Forest to be submitted before the Hon’ble Supreme Court for early clearances of projects. Chief Minister apprised that approval of DPR is pending with Central Electricity Authority as environment flow is yet finalized by Ministry of Water Resources. Approval of Terms of Reference (ToR) for conducting Environmental Studies of Bowala Nand Prayag Hydro Electric Project of 300 in District Chamoli is pending from Ministry of Environment & Forest.

The Union Minister has agreed to provide an additional fund of Rs 153 crores for the construction and up gradation of the roads of the state under the Central Road Fund. He assured to sanction a special assistance up to Rs 600 crores in this head. For this, the State Government will have to send proposal with the budgetary provision to the Central Government. The Union Minister has also agreed to provide an amount of Rs 600 crores under the CSR. This will be used in reconstruction and up gradation of Ganga ghats in Haridwar.

Union Minister Gadkari assured for cooperation in the implementation of the pending projects of the state. He said that the Central Government has planned for the landing of Sea-Plane in the major lakes of Himalayan region including Uttrakhand