Uttarakhand: CS held a review meeting on budget saturation points, directed all departments to present action plans

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviewed the saturation points mentioned in the budget speech for the financial year 2024-25 at the Secretariat on Monday. During the meeting, he directed all departments to submit action plans within the stipulated timeframe.

Emphasis placed on connecting tourist destinations with air connectivity
The CS said that all district headquarters and major tourist destinations in the state should be connected with air connectivity. A detailed action plan should be prepared, a timeline should be set, and continuous monitoring should be done. The CS directed the Public Works Department to promptly renovate unsafe bridges and trolleys in the state and ensure the construction of bridges where trolleys are currently operating. He also directed non-government trolleys to conduct a safety audit and ensure their operation in accordance with regulations.

Instructions to Expedite the Implementation of e-Office
The Chief Secretary directed the Public Works Department to quickly submit an action plan for installing crash barriers on all roads in the state. He emphasized the implementation of e-Office in all departments and district-level offices and directed the IT Department to expedite action. In the meeting, he called for accelerating the work of establishing theme-based science and innovation centers in every district. In particular, land was identified for a science and innovation center in Rudraprayag.

Employment Centers to be Developed as Self-Employment Centers
On the employment front, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan said that 13 employment centers in the state should be developed as self-employment centers. These will be equipped with libraries, video conferencing, and other facilities and will be transformed into central self-employment centers. The Industry and Employment Departments were asked to jointly prepare an action plan for this.

Instructions Given to Open Libraries in Populated Cities
Emphasizing the education sector, the Chief Secretary directed that the availability of furniture be ensured in all schools. He also directed that libraries be opened in all district headquarters and cities with a population of more than 50,000. He suggested that these libraries be operated in a society mode, similar to the Doon Library, to avoid difficulties in operation and maintenance.