Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Thursday to talk about Uttarakhand’s biggest challenges and its plans for growth.
Dhami praised the Finance Minister for successfully rolling out GST reforms and thanked the central government for its continued backing.
The talk focused on how the state’s cities are feeling the pinch of rapid population growth. In a region that gets heavy monsoon rains and is ecologically fragile, the CM highlighted the urgent need to modernise the drainage system. He noted that detailed project reports have been finished for upgrading storm‑water drains in ten of the most rainfall‑prone districts. The total cost comes to about ₹8 589.47 crore and Dhami urged the ministry to fast‑track approval under the Special Assistance Scheme for capital investment to states.
Dhami also pushed for early clearance of Uttarakhand’s externally aided projects (EAPs). He said three major proposals have already been filed: the Climate Resilience Development Project – already approved, a Public Financial Management Strengthening Project worth ₹850 crore, and a water‑supply upgrade costing ₹800 crore. He asked the Finance Minister to speed up approval for these endeavors.
Additionally, Dhami requested that the central government increase the ceiling for EAPs for the next three fiscal years (2023‑24 to 2025‑26). The four extra projects include a ₹2 000 crore Urban Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Development Project, a ₹424 crore DRIP‑III (Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project), a ₹3 638 crore Climate‑Resilient Power Transmission System Development, and a ₹1 566 crore Power Distribution Reliability Improvement Project. He said these investments would boost the state’s basic infrastructure, water management, energy network, and public services.
Finance Minister Sitharaman assured Dhami that the Centre would provide all necessary support. ()
Source: aninews
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