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Tag: Pushkar Singh Dhami

  • Uttarakhand achieves target of 100 per cent first dose COVID vaccination: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to its entire eligible population three months ahead of target, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday.

    He told a press conference here that a total of 74 lakh people or 100 per cent of the eligible population across the state have been administered with the first dose of the vaccine against coronavirus.

    Claiming that the target has been achieved three months in advance, the chief minister thanked all government, private and voluntary agencies involved in the exercise.

    He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the supply of vaccine doses to the state from August onwards.

    Also, as many as 34.68 lakh people in the state have been administered with the second dose, he said.

    The chief minister also appealed to people who had taken the first dose to get their second dose on time.

    He also said the process of inoculating people under 18 years will also begin as soon as permission for this is received.

  • Nothing wrong in having info on state demography: Dhami 

    By Express News Service

    DEHRADUN:  Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday justified taking action to keep a check on the ‘demographic changes’ in the local population, saying that the steps were meant to safeguard the people of the state. 

    The government must have record of those arriving from outside without any paperwork, he added. “It is not wrong to keep vigil and remain alert. The government must have information about the people coming from outside for work and staying in the state.” 

    Last week, the Uttarakhand government citing increase in population in certain areas which is causing ‘demographic change’ resulting into ‘migration of some communities from those areas’, issued directions to take steps for finding a ‘solution of the problem’. There is also an apprehension of disturbance in communal harmony, a government release said. It, however, did not name any community. 

    Of the 13 districts in Uttarakhand, at least five reported either change in demography at some level or increase in population of a certain community, including those from Nepal.  Authorities said the population of a community has reached 37.39% of the total population in Haridwar. “Jwalapur, Bahadarabad, Saray, Sitapur, Ferupur, Sultanpur, Roshanabad and various other localities have registered growth in the population of a community,” said an official. In border areas of Pithoragarh and Champawat, manual labourers from Nepal were found in substantial numbers. 

  • Uttarakhand AAP chief SS Kaler resigns to fight CM Dhami

    By Express News Service

    DEHRADUN:  SS Kaler, AAP Uttarakhand president has resigned to contest the state assembly polls against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 

    Kaler said that he resigned to focus on the assembly elections. “I decided to resign to contest the assembly elections against the Uttarakhand CM. I’ve confidence that people of Uttarakhand will support me,” said Kaler. The CM is MLA from Khatima constituency in Udham Singh Nagar district.

    Responding to the move of challenging the CM, the BJP dismissed it as non-significant. “Our CM is working tirelessly for the people of Uttarakhand. People are aware of what BJP and CM have done for the state,” said Bipin Kainthola, spokesperson of the state BJP unit. 

    Kejriwal in HaldwaniCM Arvind Kejriwal is visiting Haldwani city of Nainital district on September 19. Kejriwal visited last month to announce Col Ajay Kothiyal (Retd) as the AAP CM candidate

  • Uttarakhand govt allocates 28% of budget to disaster relief

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: With monsoon rains battering Uttrakhand, only 28% of the budget has been allocated to all 13 districts of the disaster-hit state. Out of the total Rs 937 crore allocated for the financial year 2020-21, only Rs 263.667 has been allocated to deal with natural disasters. 

    While hundreds of roads remain blocked, visuals of damaged rods, bridges are also emerging from across the state. 

    Dhan Singh Rawat, minister for the disaster management department commenting on the matter said, “Every effort is being put in for the mitigation of any disaster across the state. More than 400 heavy-duty JCB machines have been deployed to clear the roads. Alert has already been issued and we are working to minimize the possible threats due to rain-induced landslides.”

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami did an aerial survey of affected areas of the state with relevant authorities. 

    The meteorological department has already issued warning for next 24-36 hours for the districts of Nainital, Dehradun, Champawat, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh. 

    The officials of the MeT department also added that the rains will register some decline from August 30 to September 3, 2021. 

    The highest funds were allocated to Haridwar district with Rs 36 Crore followed by Chamoli (Rs 34 Crore), Dehradun (Rs 33 Cr), Tehri (Rs 19 Cr), Pauri (Rs 18 Cr), Udham Singh Nagar (Rs 18 Cr), Uttarkashi (Rs 17 Cr), Nainital (Rs 16 Cr), Pithoragarh (Rs 15.667 Cr), Almora (Rs 15 Cr), Rudraprayag (Rs 15 Cr), Champawat (Rs 14 Cr) and Bageshwar (Rs 13 Cr). 

    Data from the State Disaster Management Authority has revealed natural disasters including landslides, snow avalanches, cloud burst and others have registered whopping 1300% increase between year 2015 and 2020. In year 2015 total 200 such disasters were recorded which increased to 2659 in year 2020. 

    A series of photographs, videos have been surfacing from across Uttarakhand with visuals of damaged roads, destroyed bridges and boulders sprawled all over the roads including in the stretches of centre’s ambitious all-weather 900s Char Dham Pariyojana. 

  • Uttarakhand CM announces relief measures for consumers across various sectors

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made a string of announcements in the state Assembly on Thursday, giving relief to consumers across multiple sectors, including power.

    Concessions on late payment surcharge and fixed charge of electricity bills will be given to consumers for three months, he said.

    The chief Minister said concessions will also be given for the next six months in public vehicle service tax and late fee charged on delayed renewal of registration and fitness certificates, permits and driving licenses.

    Around 8,300 “Paryavaran Mitras” will be given a monthly cash incentive of Rs 2,000 each for five months.

    All beneficiaries registered under the PM SVANidhi will be given Rs 2,000 each for five months.

    Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) was launched by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry on June 1 last year to provide affordable working capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

    Chief Minister Dhami also announced that water and sewer consumers will not be charged any late fee if they clear all their dues in one go by December.

    Lauding Asha volunteers for their commendable work during the Covid pandemic, he said the state government is paying them Rs 2,000 each per month for five months.

    They will also be given one tablet device each to help them in their work, the chief minister said.

  • Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami launches Sputnik V COVID vaccine in state

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday launched anti-COVID Sputnik V vaccine in the state. On the first day, 100 people got the dose of the Russia-manufactured vaccine.

    Before launching the vaccine at a medical college here, the CM and cabinet ministers observed a two-minute silence as a tribute to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, who passed away after prolonged illness at a Lucknow hospital on Saturday.

    Speaking at the launch of the vaccine, Dhami said by December this year, the state government will achieve its target of 100 per cent vaccination. The state is getting all help from the Centre to achieve the goal, he said, adding that it has already received 17 lakh vaccines from the Centre and camps have been set up in the remotest areas.

    The state government is fully prepared to deal with the third wave of the pandemic if it comes and efforts continue to further strengthen health facilities, he said.

  • Pawandeep Rajan has brought glory to Uttarakhand: CM congratulates Indian Idol season 12 winner

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday congratulated Pawandeep Rajan for winning the 12th season of music reality show Indian Idol.

    “By winning Indian Idol and millions of hearts across the country through his singing, Pawandeep has brought glory to Uttarakhand, from where he belongs.

    I congratulate him on his achievement and wish him all the best for a bright future ahead,” Dhami said in a Facebook post.

    Rajan, who was declared the winner of the 12th season of Indian Idol on Sunday night, is a resident of Uttarakhand’s Champawat district.

  • Uttarakhand government increases pension given to World War II soldiers, widows

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday increased the pension given to veterans of World War II and wives of the soldiers who died during the war from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. Making the announcement on Kargil Vijay Diwas, Dhami said 800 families in the state will get the benefits of it.

    He said that financial assistance of Rs 50,000 will be given to candidates who pass NDA and CDS written tests to help them prepare for the viva. However, it will be given on the basis of the economic condition of the families of such candidates, the chief minister said.

    A hostel meant for the children of defence personnel pursuing studies will be built in Haldwani and ceremonies held in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions to honour “vir naris” and soldiers conferred with bravery awards.

    Earlier, Dhami laid a wreath on Shaheed Smarak (martyrs memorial) at Gandhi Park to remember the soldiers who lost their lives in the 1999 Kargil War. “Battling odds, Indian soldiers chased infiltrators beyond the frontiers during the Kargil war. The country will always remember the sacrifices of our brave soldiers,” Dhami said.

    He also visited Kargil martyr Naik Devendra Singh Rawat’s residence in Kaulagarh area and garlanded his picture.

  • Rs 197 crore package for Covid losses in Uttarakhand: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday announced a relief package of Rs 197.84  crore to compensate for financial losses people have suffered due to cancellation of Char Dham Yatra, religious tourism and other tourist activities in the state for the second consecutive year due to Covid-19.

    An amount ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 will be deposited every month into the accounts of 1,63,661 beneficiaries over the next six months. “This pandemic has affected people associated with Char Dham Yatra and other tourist activities. We have decided to directly transfer money into the accounts of such people. We will also provide relief by cutting down the licence fees for various activities,” said the CM, who was in Uttarkashi visiting the villages devastated by cloudburst on the intervening night of Sunday-Monday.  

    The list of beneficiaries from across 13 districts has been prepared by tourism, culture, finance, irrigation, forest, transport and urban development departments. The beneficiaries will include boatmen from Tehri, Naini, Bhimtal and other lakes, cultural groups, artists, river guides, tour guides, drivers, conductors and many others. 

    Dhami also announced constitution of a high-powered committee to look into the law pertaining to formation of Char Dham Devsthanam Board. A decision will be taken on the basis of the committee’s recommendations, he said.

    Priests of Char Dham shrines — Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri — have been miffed over the formation of the board in December 2019. Dhami’s decision is seen as an attempt to pacify the priest community in view of next year’s Assembly polls.

  • Rs 200 crore package to help those affected by cancellation of Char Dham Yatra: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN:   To compensate for the economic loss due to cancellation of the Char Dham Yatra for the second consecutive year, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday announced a relief package worth around Rs 200 crore, which will benefit over 1.63 lakh people in the state.

    “This pandemic has affected people associated with Char Dham Yatra and other touristic activities adversely. We have decided to transfer money directly into the accounts of the affected people. We will also provide relief by cutting down the license fees for various activities,” said the CM who was visiting the villages devastated by Sunday’s heavy rains in Uttarkashi.

    A list of beneficiaries from 13 districts of the state has been prepared by various departments of the state government. A total of 1,63,661 people will receive direct cash transfer. These include boatmen, artists, tour guides, drivers, conductors and many others. Those in the list will get a financial assistance of Rs 2,000- Rs 10,000 per month for six months.

    Meanwhile, taking note of the dissatisfaction of priests from Char Dham Shrines- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri–the chief minister constituted a high-powered committee to look into the law pertaining to the formation of Char Dham Devsthanam Board. The chief minister met families of those killed in rains. “I have instructed all the district magistrates to stay ready with their teams 24×7 in case any natural calamity hits us,” he said.

    Permission must to collect GangajalDehradun: Uttarakhand government has made it mandatory to get permission from the Haridwar district administration to get Gangajal from the holy river. Haridwar district administration and the state police department said joint meetings have been held with officials from the neighboring Uttar Pradesh on the issue. V Murugeshan, additional director general of police (Law & Order) said, “Permission will be needed if the Kanwar groups want to fetch Gangajal from Ganga in Haridwar. Those gaining entry in the holy city without permission will be quarantined for 14 days.” The state police will deploy special officers to counsel yatris who arrive at the border and convince them to return. Meanwhile, Har Ki Pauri Ghat has also been closed to Kanwar pilgrims.