Chief Secretary took a meeting regarding the preparations for the 16th Finance Commission’s visit to Uttarakhand

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan held a meeting regarding the preparations for the Uttarakhand visit of the 16th Finance Commission at the Secretariat on Friday. The Chief Secretary took stock of the entire program, meetings and other preparations of the Uttarakhand visit of the Finance Commission.

The Chief Secretary said that proper arrangements should be made from the arrival of the Finance Commission to its departure. He said that contact officers and other arrangements should be ensured as per the protocol. Proper arrangements should be ensured for various proposed meetings and press conferences etc. to be held by the Commission with stakeholders in Dehradun and Nainital.

The Chief Secretary said that the points to be placed before the Commission should be presented with a focused approach. He said that if the weather is bad during the Commission’s visit to Badrinath and Kedarnath, then alternative arrangements should also be ensured for such a situation.

On this occasion, heads of departments and senior officers of all the concerned departments including Secretary Dilip Jawalkar were present.

Chief Secretary reviewed the check dams being constructed by the Irrigation Department for water conservation

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviewed the check dams being built by the Irrigation Department for water conservation at the Secretariat on Friday. The Chief Secretary has directed to expedite the check dam proposals being prepared by the Irrigation and Minor Irrigation Department in the state under the Water Resources and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA).

The Chief Secretary said that the check dams will be reviewed weekly. He said that work should be done towards the construction of check dams across the state. He said that proposals with an amount less than Rs 1 crore should be disposed of at the district level itself.

The Chief Secretary said that important proposals should be given priority from the point of view of drinking water. He said that the Drinking Water Corporation and Jal Sansthan should be included in this. Proposals should be prepared for those places by identifying the places with water shortage from Jal Sansthan and Drinking Water Corporation. He also directed to submit a joint report of this.

The Chief Secretary said that government orders should be issued soon for those proposals whose DPR has been prepared. For each proposal, a calendar should also be prepared setting the time limit for recommendations like EC, FC, TAC and EFC etc. and the work should be completed within the stipulated time limit.

Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that the work of construction of barrages and check dams is in progress in various districts of the state. He said that the construction work of reservoirs in Nainital, Almora, Dehradun and Pauri is in progress. Said that in the year 2024-25, a total of 111 sources of first priority were taken on priority in the state, out of which work on 105 has been completed, work is in progress on 06 sources. 124 works are proposed for the year 2025-26, whose DPR is being prepared as well as the process of estimate formation is in progress.

On this occasion, Additional Chief Executive Officer Water Resources and River Rejuvenation Authority Mrs. Neena Grewal, Jaipal Singh from Irrigation Department and Brijesh Kumar Tiwari from Minor Irrigation along with other senior officers were present.