Rishikesh: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the 117th meeting of the All India Mayors’ Council held in Rishikesh. On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for three developmental projects worth ₹29.78 crore. This includes the inauguration of one project valued at ₹23.15 crore and the foundation stone-laying of two projects worth ₹6.63 crore.
Welcoming the mayors from various cities across the country, the Chief Minister stated that every mayor is the first citizen of their city and the representative of the hopes, expectations, and trust of the urban population. He emphasized that their decisions directly impact the future of upcoming generations.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chardham Yatra achieved a new milestone this year, with over 30 lakh pilgrims visiting within just 45 days. “Our utmost priority is to ensure that the pilgrimage remains simple, smooth, and safe,” he said. He further noted that while previously only 500 people visited Adi Kailash annually, around 1,000 pilgrims are now arriving there every day since the commencement of this year’s yatra. Additionally, 24 lakh devotees have paid obeisance at the Maa Purnagiri Temple, and over 23 crore tourists have visited Uttarakhand in the last four years.
The Chief Minister added that under the PM’s guidance, urban development in the spiritual land of Uttarakhand is gaining rapid momentum. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission in Uttarakhand, solid waste management and sanitation frameworks are being strengthened in every town. The benefits of various welfare schemes—such as the Smart Cities Mission, PM SVANidhi, PM Awas Yojana, AMRUT Mission, Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign, and legacy waste management—are being delivered to every citizen of Uttarakhand.
To provide accessible healthcare services to underprivileged families in urban areas, the Chief Minister announced that Urban Health and Wellness Centres have been established across urban local bodies (ULBs) for the first time in the state. The government has also launched the ‘Aashray Yojana’ to provide shelter to destitute cattle, and the Animal Birth Control scheme to curb the rising canine population in local bodies. Effective measures are also being taken toward developing green zones and controlling pollution.
“Our cities present the true image of our country to the world. If our cities are well-organized, clean, safe, and developed, India’s image will be firmly established as a strong, prosperous, and leading nation. If the city is clean, the whole of India will be clean,” the CM added, emphasizing that self-reliant and secure cities are vital for India to become a developed nation.
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal stated that on the lines of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, the government is working toward a ‘Viksit Uttarakhand’. He noted that developing metropolitan areas, fostering self-reliance, expanding solar energy, managing waste, implementing rainwater harvesting, and establishing local small-scale industries play a crucial role in realizing the vision of a developed India.
Project Layout and Foundation Stones Laid:
₹1.80 Crore: Foundation stone laid for the construction of EV charging stations at 10 locations under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode for the Rishikesh Municipal Corporation.
₹4.83 Crore: Foundation stone laid for rainwater harvesting projects at 12 locations in Rishikesh.
₹23.15 Crore: Foundation stone laid for the construction of a compost plant and sanitary landfill site at Lal Pani Beat under the Solid Waste Management scheme of the Rishikesh Municipal Corporation.
The Chief Minister also inspected various project sites during his visit.
The event was attended by Cabinet Minister Ram Singh Kaida, MLA Premchand Aggarwal, Mayors Shambhu Paswan, Renu Bala Gupta, and Ashutosh, along with mayors from various cities across the country.
