Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Oct: The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), chaired by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, today approved five development proposals, including major drinking water and irrigation projects, during a meeting held at the Secretariat. Of the eight proposals placed before the committee, five received approval while three were kept pending for further review and examination.
Among the key projects approved was the Irrigation Department’s Pandit Syama Prasad Mukherjee Reservoir Project in Sahaspur, announced by the Chief Minister, with an estimated cost of Rs 326.64 crores. The committee also cleared the Khairna Barrage Drinking Water Project in Nainital district at a cost of Rs 382.40 crores. Both projects are expected to play an important role in strengthening infrastructure and accelerating development in their respective regions.
The committee also approved the construction of a Circuit House in Bageshwar under a Chief Minister’s announcement. The project, to be executed by the State Property Department and the Public Works Department (PWD), will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 13.15 crores and is expected to improve public infrastructure in the district.
Another proposal approved was the Rs 21.81 crore project for tarring and improvement of the Kainchi Dham bypass motor road from Dunighat to Ratighat (Padli) in Betalghat block of Nainital district under the State Sector Plan. The project is aimed at strengthening road infrastructure and improving connectivity in the area.
The committee also approved a Rs 25 crore proposal of the Urban Development Department and Haridwar Municipal Corporation for integrated sanitation operations during Kumbh Mela-2027. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan directed officials to ensure strict verification of agencies engaged through outsourcing and sanitation personnel deployed for the event. He emphasised the use of biometric verification and other modern technologies to ensure transparency, proper monitoring and accountability before payments are released.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary stressed on the importance of detailed planning, timely clearances, financial discipline and quality control in all projects. He directed departments to ensure that technical, geological, financial and administrative approvals are obtained in advance to avoid delays and cost escalations. He also instructed that physical verification of projects should be carried out through competent authorities and authorised agencies to maintain transparency and accountability.
Proposals related to the Syunsi Lake project in Bironkhal block of Chaubattakhal Assembly constituency and the Rudraprayag Master Plan Phase-I were also reviewed, with further examination directed. Bardhan specifically instructed that the drainage plan for Rudraprayag should ensure that household wastewater is not discharged directly into rivers and that adequate wastewater management mechanisms are incorporated.
A proposal relating to integrated infrastructure development, substation panels and allied works at Kedarnath Dham was kept pending for further scrutiny. The CS directed the departments concerned to verify the reasons for the additional cost escalation and submit a revised proposal after a detailed examination.
Principal Secretaries RK Sudhanshu and R Meenakshi Sundaram, PWD Secretaries Pankaj Pandey and Dr R Rajesh Kumar, Planning Department officer Sridhar Babu Addanki and other senior departmental officers were among those present at the meeting.
