Dehradun: Chief Minister Mr. Trivendra Singh Rawat and Union Water Resources and Swattachtha Minister Uma Bharati participated as chief guests in the Baikunth Chaturdashi Mela and Development Exhibition -2018 at Srinagar,Pauri Garhwal. They lighted the traditional lamp to inaugurate it. On this occasion , 11 thousand people took oath to maintain the cleanliness of river Ganga. The Chief Minister also unveiled the Alkeshwar bathing ghat and Moksha ghat constructed at a coiist of Rs11 crore at Srinagar city and also ITI Moksha Ghat built at a cost of Rs.2.97 crore. The Chief Minister also announced the construction of parking lot at Srinagar, boundary wall of nursery of horticulture department, taxi stand construction at Paithani, upgradation and beautification of RainBasera at Srinagar. He also announced a reward of Rs. 51,000 to girl students of GGIC,Srinagar for singing a song on river Ganga.
On this occasion addressing the Ganga Cleanliness Conference under Swattach Bharat Mission , Union Drinking water and Swattachtha Minister Uma Bharati said that the Chief minister by making all the villages situated on the banks of river as Open Defecation Free ( ODF) has done a wonderful work for the country. He said that Uttarakhand has created a record. He said that Uttarakhand is ‘Devbhoomi’ and each village has some spiritual person living there. She congratulated the Chief Minister by imposing ban on plastics in the state. She said that plastic ban will not save Himalayas but also conserve the fertile land. She emphasized the need for girl’s education and said that educated girls would help in developing the society and take it ahead. She said that women in Uttarakhand incorporate the images of Goddess Durga, Kali and Luxmi as they are courageous and hard working. On continuous flow of Ganga river she said that Ganga would continue to flow uninterrupted so that bio-diversity is protected. She said that we have to walk with development and faith jointly.
Chief Minister Mr. Trivendra Singh Rawat speaking as chief guest at GI & TI grounds at Srinagar said that an ancient fair is held at the Samadhi of Mata Sita in Kot block of the district.The people have great faith in the Samadhi and the state government will prepare a solid work plan to bring the place before the entire world.He said that the state government is committed to develop it as a great centre of faith in the coming days. He said that there is a place called Vidkoti, four kilomteres from Devprayag and Sitakoti is 9 kms from Vidakoti and Phalswari is six kms from Sitakoti. He said that an 18 kms long centre of faith would be developed by incorporating all these places.He further said that to develop these places, the secretary of government of India, chief secretary,Uttarakhand, DGP and all the 13 district magistrates will travel with him on in these areas on a ‘Padyatra’. He announced that 22 lakh families of the state will be benefitted by ‘Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojna’ from December 25 on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Uttarakhand will be the first state to offer such facilities to such large number of people. He said that all the needy persons have been given power connection under ‘Saubhagya’ Scheme in the state. The left out needy persons will be given connections during the month of November.
Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand has become the first state which has issued government order for the e-flow of Ganga’s continuous stream. He said that if any project in the state is formulated, then it will be necessary to have 15 per cent e-flow according to scientific approach. He said that Uttarakhand has done unprecedented work in banning polyethylene in the state. Polythene is becoming the main cause of pollution. An energy plant is being set up in Haridwar for its prevention in the state and energy generation from it.
Chief Minister said that the youth in the state will not have to look for employment in other states. Pine Needle Policy is being made for the educated unemployed in the state. He said that with the scientific technique, by proper harness of pine, the economic picture of entire Uttarakhand can be changed. Under this, 143 types of products, including fuel, coal tar and 25 kilowatt electric power, can be made from pine leaves and its fiber. For this, specially programmes to train youth are also being run. He said that just Pine Needle can provide employment to fifty thousand people. In addition to this, lakhs of youth from the state will get jobs in generation of oil and electricity from pine.
For meritorious work in the field of cleanliness Chief Minister honoured Additional Commissioner, Garhwal Division, Harak Singh Rawat who had made proposals for the door-to-door waste collection and Paryavaran Mitra Yojana during his tenure as Deputy District Magistrate in Srinagar in year 2006. Along with him, Paryavaran Mitra Rita Devi and Dr. VP Nathani were honoured with a memento.
In the programme, Higher Education Minister (Independent Charge) and Area MLA Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said that with the collective efforts of all the people, today more than 11 people have taken oath of making Ganga clean from Srinagar. He said that this would be a message not only to Uttarakhand but also for the entire India about getting united towards the cleanliness of Ganga. He said that since ancient times, Ganga has uplifted the mankind. Today the time has come that we all get together for the cleanliness of Ganga. He said that in no case, NIT would be shifted out of Srinagar. He demanded construction of auditorium, a 52-bed hospital and a new bridge in Srinagar.
On this occasion, Union Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Parameswaran Iyer , in his address, highlighted the work being done pertaining to the Swachh Bharat Mission and Ganga Swachhta. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Trivendra Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand has set a world record by planting more than one lakh trees in one hour. He said that in the last two years, more than 36 lakh saplings have been planted under the Ganga Gram Yojana in villages located on banks of Ganga in Uttarakhand.
