Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Participates in NITI Aayog Meeting Chaired by PM Modi

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, CM Dhami emphasized that Uttarakhand is actively working towards the goal of a developed India. He acknowledged the state’s high susceptibility to natural disasters and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the special financial provisions made in the central budget in this regard.CM Dhami proudly announced that Uttarakhand has secured the top position in the recently released Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Ranking. He also mentioned the passage of the ‘Uniform Civil Code’ bill in the state under the guidance of the Prime Minister.Highlighting the development of Himalayan states, CM Dhami referred to the proposals made in the eighth meeting of the NITI Aayog last year. He requested the formation of specific policies for the Himalayan states based on these proposals.

• Key Points from CM Dhami’s Address:

  Water Crisis and Conservation:

  • The Chief Minister noted the severe drinking water crisis in many cities across the country. He stressed the need for special efforts in water conservation and groundwater level enhancement.Uttarakhand has established the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority, which focuses on water conservation, rejuvenating water sources, and connecting rain-fed rivers with glacier-fed rivers. He requested special financial assistance and technical support from the central government for these initiatives.

  Rural Entrepreneurship:

  • Emphasizing the need to promote entrepreneurship in rural areas, CM Dhami highlighted the importance of cluster-based incubation centers and growth centers.Uttarakhand has already established two rural incubation centers and 110 growth centers as pilot projects. He requested technical and financial support from the central government to establish more such centers.

  Hydroelectric Projects:

  • CM Dhami requested approval and implementation of hydroelectric projects with a capacity of less than 25 megawatts by the states.He also asked for the proposed 24% capital subsidy for the construction of small hydroelectric projects to be extended to the Himalayan states, similar to the northeastern states.

  Agricultural Irrigation:

  • He requested the inclusion of lift irrigation in the guidelines of the ‘PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana’.

  Climate Change and Global Warming:

  • The Chief Minister emphasized the need to address global warming and climate change.The Uttarakhand government is focusing on development plans that balance ecology and economy. The state has initiated the issuance of Gross Environmental Product (GEP) alongside GDP.

  Urban Development:

  • CM Dhami highlighted the significant contribution of urban areas to the growth of any developed nation.He pointed out the difficulty in providing basic amenities due to the high population in big cities and suggested developing ‘Counter Magnet Areas’ between various cities to tackle this issue.For the vision of a developed India by 2047, he stressed the importance of focusing on AI readiness and quantum readiness for research, development, and innovation.

  The Chief Minister’s address underlined the proactive measures taken by the Uttarakhand government and the need for continued support from the central government to achieve the vision of a developed India.