Our motto: Development, employment, corruption-free Uttarakhand\
Posted online: Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 0100 hrs Print EmailAs part of our initiative of getting in the views of chief ministers across all states, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Major Gen B C Khanduri talks about how he has revived the faith of people and brought administration on track
The State of Uttarakhand came into being on November 9, 2000, after a fairly long struggle, which was in many ways historic. The objective of the struggle was not to get separated from Uttar Pradesh, but to have better facilities for development and employment. People were convinced that unless a separate state was carved out, these things would not be possible.
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Since I had been associated with the struggle for the formation of the state, I knew the aspirations of the people and expectations that they had from its Government. That is why, when I took over the reigns of Uttarakhand on March 8, 2007, I set certain targets for myself that involved three areas — stress on development activities, a corruption-free society and providing employment.
We inherited a severe financial crunch and a debt trap. The administrative system was derailed and corruption was rampant in the state. People had no faith in the government. First, our Government worked to revive the lost faith of people and bring the administrative system back on the track.
With financial discipline and austere measures, our Government succeeded in improving the financial condition of the state. Owing to it, we passed a ‘revenue surplus budget’ for the second consecutive year in 2008. During our 16-month tenure, I can claim no scandal or corruption was noticed.
We have sent a strong message to the people that we wouldn’t tolerate corruption. One of the initiatives taken in this line is transparent recruitment system. When we took over the reins of the state, there was total chaos in the administration and jobs were being sold openly. We got rid of the system of recommendations by doing away with the interview system. In order to ensure the examinee that he was being judged fairly, we introduced the concept of a carbon copy of the answer sheet which the examinee could take home. When the marks were put on board, the examinee could tally it with the carbon copy. In this manner, we filled up almost 24,000 Government posts in the first year itself.
We accelerated the pace of road construction work. This year, the amount has been doubled to Rs 400 crore. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is also funding a project in the state for which certain roads are being identified.
I was surprised to find out that approximately Rs 220 crore, given to the state by the Centre under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, was not utilised by the previous government. I immediately raised 9 divisions of PWD, which are now working on this scheme.
Owing to the excise and income tax exemptions and other incentives, a large number of investments have been made in the industrial sector in the state. However, almost all investments have been planned for plain areas in Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar. Keeping this in mind, after detailed discussions with the entrepreneurs and all other stakeholders, the Government of Uttarakhand recently announced an Integrated Industrial Development Policy for remote and hilly regions of the state. Under it, attractive incentives are being provided for non-polluting manufacturing and identified service sector activities.
Uttarakhand’s geography provides it an excellent opportunity for hydropower projects. Its estimated hydro potential is 25,450 MW, out of which, so far, only 3,128 MW is being harnessed.
Projects of 13,363 MW have been allotted to various agencies for construction. The state has embarked on the path of increasing power generation to 5000 MW through environmentally appropriate means. It is progressing at full pace towards capacity addition and within the next ten years, it will increase its existing capacity up to three-and-half times.
The state has recently implemented a policy to harness renewable energy sources through private sector/ community participation. The Government is making all out efforts to create public awareness and involve local population in establishing, operating and managing power projects and thus to create direct and indirect employment avenues in the state.
We accord reverence to Ganga as it is associated with our faith and emotions. A perennial source of water, originating in the lofty Himalayan heights, it flows over a vast course, dumping rich alluvial soil — a veritable boon for agriculture along its course in the plains. The Government is of the view that the perennial source of Ganga will not be disturbed. We are focusing on making run-of-the-river power projects, so that minimum population is displaced. Under the new power policy, smaller projects would be allotted to local people and the Government would provide financial and technical support. After the completion of the project, it would be devolved to Gram Panchayat for its management and maintenance. This way we can tap the water resources available in abundance in the hills and also create job avenues for the local people.
We aim at making Uttarakhand an ideal state by harnessing natural resources, creating job avenues and fulfilling aspirations of the people.
