Dehradun, 12 April:
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said that the State Government was well conscious towards protection of environment. He said that the development process would be accelerated by maintaining the balance between environment and the development.
Speaking to the mediapersons at Secretariat after Cabinet Meeting here today, the Chief Minister said that the state would put forward its stand strongly in the meeting of Ganga Basin Authority scheduled to be held in New Delhi. He said that the State Government was in favour of small Hydro-power projects and all those projects approved by the Centre would not be stopped. He asserted that the State Government would strive to maintain the incessant flow and hygiene of River Ganga. CM said that the State Government would urge the Centre to complete all those projects in which heavy amount had so far been spent. He said that the State Government was also looking for other prospects of revenue generation other than power sector. "For this the Centre has been approached for allocation of State's coal quota," he said adding that this would definitely yield a positive result. CM said that State had plans to establish coal based Thermal Plants in the state and the proposals for same were in the pipeline. He disclosed that the approval had been received from Union Ministry.
Chief Minister Bahuguna said that the State Government was committed towards the welfare of minorities and separate Ministry had been set up for them. He said considering the welfare of the daily wages workers, the minimum wage would be decided for which a committee had been set up. CM disclosed that the existing minimum wage which is Rs. 125 for MNREGA workers would also be increased and the additional load would be borne by State Government.
Chief Minister revealed that in a bid to give more impetus to industrial development, state government had discussed with Union Minister about the 800 acres land meant for Central Government sponsored unit NEPA lying vacant in Kashipur. He said that welfare of all the sections of the society would be kept in consideration in the next Annual Plan. CM said that a concrete workplan would be chalked out for the overall development of the state.
Earlier Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna gave a patient hearing to the problems of the people at his Residence and instructed the concerned officers to provide solutions to them.
State Election Commissioner Harish Chandra Joshi called on Chief Minister Bahuguna and apprised him about the preparations going on for local unit and Panchayat Elections. Representatives of Gorkha Community also met the Chief Minister.
Dehradun, 12 April:
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna will be on tour to Rudraprayag District on Friday. He will leave for Rudraprayag in helicopter on Saturday at 10:50 am from Haridwar. At Rudraprayag he will inaugurate a Mela at Jhakholi-Badhanital at 11:35 am. After that he will reach Jollygrant Airport in the afternoon and leave for Delhi where he will participate in various programs.
Chief Minister Bahuguna will also attend a function at Bangaluru on April 14, 2012 and return back to Delhi in the evening. On April 15, 2012, Chief Minister will hold meeting with members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at Uttarakhand Niwas and review the proposals prepared on Ganga Basin Authority to be submitted from State's side. On April 16, 2012, he will attend the meeting on Internal Security to be held in Delhi Vigyan Bhawan. He will advocate grant of additional assistance from the Centre for strengthening and modernization of state police. CM will attend a meeting on Ganga Basin Authority to be chaired by Prime Minister on April 17, 2012.
