CM Pushkar Singh Dhami: On Sunday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed Bhoomi Pujan and laid the foundation stone of two important flood protection projects of the district at Boomghat in Champawat district. The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of flood protection (embankment) construction work on the banks of Sharda river from Boom to Tanakpur at a cost of ₹ 60.21 crore and flood protection wall construction work on Huddi river for the protection of village Chhinigoth of Purnagiri tehsil at a cost of ₹ 5.74 crore.
On arrival at the programme, the Chief Minister was warmly welcomed by the women of the local self-help group and the residents of the area with traditional Tika, Patka, Kumaoni cap, flower shower and Chholiya dance.
Before reaching the venue, the Chief Minister conducted on-site inspection of flood protection construction works on Sharda River and took stock of the progress of the works and directed the concerned officials to complete the construction work with quality and timeliness.
During the programme, the Chief Minister interacted with temple management committees, ex-servicemen, public representatives, Khirdwari tribal group, trade circles, farmer brothers, voluntary organizations and representatives of various social sections.
The Chief Minister also inspected the departmental stalls set up under Seva Pakhwada. The Chief Minister took information about the schemes at the stalls set up by various departments including Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy, Women and Child Development, Health, Social Welfare, NRLM and directed the officials to ensure that the benefits of public welfare schemes reach the last person. At the stall of the Women’s Self-Help Group, the Chief Minister along with the local women prepared roti and chutney in the traditional way, due to which special enthusiasm was seen among the women. The easy going and simple behavior of the Chief Minister captivated the hearts of the people present.
The Chief Minister also distributed nutrition kits to five beneficiaries under Nikshay Yojana in the health camp and took information about the progress of public welfare schemes run by various departments.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that Sharda Embankment is not just a construction project, but a strong foundation for the secure future of the coming generations and the overall development of the region. He said that Mother Sharda River is the basis of life and livelihood of lakhs of families. “Where there is water, there is life.”
The Chief Minister said that whenever he gets an opportunity to visit Maa Purnagiri Dham, the affection of the people here gives him a sense of belonging like his own family. He said that the trust of the people of Champawat is their biggest strength.
He said that the state government is committed to giving a new identity to the region in terms of spiritual, cultural and tourism through the Sharda Corridor project. Under this project, which is being developed at a cost of approximately ₹ 3300 crore, many religious and tourist places including Sharda River Front from Tanakpur to Banbasa are being developed.
The Chief Minister said that to provide world class sports facilities to the daughters of the state, a Women’s Sports College is being established at a cost of about ₹ 257 crore and a modern Science Center is being established at a cost of ₹ 58.52 crore. Along with this, continuous work is also being done to increase the income of farmers through the development of agricultural colleges, cow sheds and modern agricultural techniques.
He said that imbibing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of “Development and heritage also”, many religious places including Maa Purnagiri Dham, Sharda Corridor, Golju Corridor and Maa Varahi Dham are being developed under the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission, which will promote religious tourism and create new employment and self-employment opportunities for the local youth.
The Chief Minister said that a modern ISBT is being constructed in Tanakpur at a cost of about ₹ 237.74 crore and a media center is being constructed at a cost of about ₹ 14 crore. Apart from this, work is also going on at a fast pace towards the establishment of residential building for environment friends in Lohaghat, Sainik Memorial in Banbasa and Sainik Multipurpose Center in Pati.
He said that the projects whose foundation stone has been laid today are not just construction work but are the strong foundation of developed Champawat, secure future and prosperous Uttarakhand. During the program, the Chief Minister met the officials and workers of the BJP organization and also interacted with the representatives of different social sections of Purnagiri and Banbasa areas.
On this occasion, BJP District President Govind Samant, District Panchayat President Anand Singh Adhikari, Block Chief Aanchal Bora, District General Secretary Mukesh Kalkhudia, MLA representatives Prakash Tiwari and Deepak Rajwar, District Incharge Gunjan Sukhija, District Co-Incharge Himanshu Bisht, Superintendent of Police Rekha Yadav, Chief Development Officer G.S. Khati along with public representatives, departmental officers, employees and a large number of villagers and beneficiaries were present.
