Uttarakhand Chief Minister held a meeting with the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog to discuss various issues related to the state.

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], October 19: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Beri at the Secretariat on Saturday to discuss important state-related issues, highlighting Uttarakhand's challenging geographical conditions.

During the meeting, CM Dhami welcomed Beri to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and noted that the state comprises mountainous, plain, Bhabar, and Terai regions. He mentioned that the state faces significant challenges, including disasters, forest fires, migration, and a floating population.

"Uttarakhand is strategically important, being adjacent to the international borders of two countries," CM Dhami emphasized. He urged the Vice Chairman to develop policies that consider the geographical realities of the Himalayan states.

Additionally, he requested a special policy aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of those in mountainous areas, stating, "This could help mitigate the issue of migration from these regions."

CM Dhami also discussed an ambitious project to link snow-fed rivers with rain-fed ones, noting that its long-term impact could be transformative. He sought technical support from NITI Aayog, emphasizing the financial requirements for the River Linking Project.

With a population of approximately 1.25 crore, Uttarakhand sees a tenfold increase in visitors due to its status as a religious and tourist destination. CM Dhami stressed the need for improved basic amenities to accommodate this floating population.

He pointed out the state’s vulnerability to natural disasters, which cause substantial loss of life and property annually, often impacting developed infrastructure. Therefore, he requested that policies be created with these natural disaster considerations in mind.

CM Dhami also highlighted the issue of forest fires, stating that adequate resources are needed to tackle this challenge and called for a special policy focused on the development of border areas.

In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, the state government initiated the 'Sashakt Uttarakhand Initiative' in 2022, aiming to double the state’s economy in five years. "So far, we have increased the economy by 1.3 times compared to 2022, with established short-term, medium-term, and long-term roadmaps," he stated.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Beri congratulated the Chief Minister for Uttarakhand's top ranking in the Sustainable Development Goals released by NITI Aayog. He assured cooperation on the discussed challenges and expressed commitment to supporting the development of the state's aspiring districts and development blocks.