CM launches state-level Harela Plantation Drive
Garhwal Post Bureau
Almora, 16 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today launched the state-level ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ mass plantation campaign on the occasion of Harela at Garudabaj Ground in Almora district and participated in the ‘Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar’ programme. 0n this occasion, he planted a sapling and extended Harela greetings to the people of Uttarakhand, urging them to take a collective pledge to protect nature.
A large number of public representatives, government officials, representatives of various departments and local residents participated in the programme. The CM also visited the exhibition stalls set up by different government departments, where people availed themselves of the benefits of several public welfare schemes and services.
On the occasion, Dhami announced a series of development projects for the Jageshwar Assembly constituency, reiterating the government’s commitment to the region’s holistic development.
Addressing the gathering, the CM asserted that Harela is not merely a festival but a symbol of society’s faith in, sensitivity towards and responsibility for nature. He urged every citizen to plant at least one sapling and take responsibility for nurturing it, saying only then would the future generations inherit a safe and green environment. Earlier, he had offered prayers at Vriddh Jageshwar and the Jageshwar Dham.
Dhami said the government has strengthened Uttarakhand’s cultural identity and safeguarded the future of its youth by implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a stringent anti-conversion law and a tough anti-copying law. He added that Uttarakhand has emerged as a source of inspiration for other states in several sectors and that thousands of young people have secured government jobs through a transparent recruitment process.
The CM said that the government has completed five years of ‘Seva, Sushasan aur Samarpan’ and was observing the occasion by organising the ‘Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar’ campaign across the state to deliver government services and welfare schemes directly to the people. He said the objective is to ensure that the benefits of development and welfare initiatives reached even the last person in society.
Dhami said Almora enjoys a distinct identity across the country because of its rich cultural heritage, historical significance and intellectual traditions. He said people from the district have brought laurels to Uttarakhand at national and international levels. The state government, he added, was making continuous efforts to preserve cultural heritage, promote religious tourism and provide global recognition to the state’s unique traditions. In line with the Prime Minister’s vision, Uttarakhand was rapidly moving towards becoming the country’s leading state in the fields of spirituality, culture and tourism.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta said Uttarakhand is setting new benchmarks of development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He said unprecedented work has been undertaken in the fields of roads, railways, digital connectivity, healthcare, education and tourism. He added that the coordinated efforts of the double-engine government are steadily expanding infrastructure in the hill regions and ensuring that the benefits of development reached the last person. He also appealed to every citizen to plant and protect trees for environmental conservation.
Cabinet Minister Dhan Singh Rawat said Uttarakhand has achieved several new milestones during the past five years under Dhami’s leadership. He said the state has made significant progress in sustainable development goals, per capita income, education, healthcare, employment and infrastructure. He added that the government remains committed to ensuring that every welfare scheme reached the last beneficiary and described Harela as a powerful people’s movement for environmental conservation through public participation.
Welcoming the Chief Minister, Jageshwar MLA Mohan Singh Mahra observed that Dhami shares a special bond with the Jageshwar Assembly constituency and had visited the region nearly 25 times during his tenure, reflecting his commitment to its development. He thanked the Chief Minister for announcing several development projects for the area.
During the programme, the CM also inspected the stalls showcasing development projects and public welfare schemes set up by various departments. A large number of people also benefited from services and schemes provided through departmental camps organised at the venue.
Among those present on the occasion included Ranikhet MLA Pramod Nainwal, Govind Pilkhwal, Kundan Latwal, Bhawana Mehra, Zila Panchayat Chairperson Hema Gaida, Migration Prevention Commission member Anil Singh Sahi, Almora Mayor Ajay Verma, BJP district president and Zila Panchayat member Mahesh Nayal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Kapil Lall, Secretary Dilip Jawalkar, Additional Secretary Himanshu Khurana, District Magistrate Anshul Singh and Senior SSP Chandrashekhar R Ghodke.
The CM also announced a series of development initiatives for the Jageshwar region. These include the comprehensive development of Vriddha Jageshwar; construction of a drinking water scheme up to the Vriddha Jageshwar temple; integrated tourism development of heritage sites associated with the mythological significance of Jageshwar Dham, including Airavat Cave, the Jata Ganga origin point at Kotiling, Shiv Paw at Kotli and temples located along the Artola-Jageshwar motor road; construction of a State Guest House near Artola; installation of new mobile towers in Jageshwar, Vriddha Jageshwar and Artola; development of the existing parking facility at Artola into a multi-level parking complex; construction of RCC drains and paving of road shoulders on the Artola-Jageshwar road to enhance traffic capacity without felling trees; and commencement of MA classes at Danya Degree College.
