Review Meeting with DMs
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 17 Nov: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today chaired a high-level virtual review meeting with the District Magistrates and other senior officials to review the state’s development progress, administrative reforms, and the pace of grievance redressal. During the meeting, the CM lauded the successful organisation of Uttarakhand’s Silver Jubilee celebrations and noted that the guidance received from the President and Prime Minister during the event had laid a visionary foundation for the state’s future.
Reiterating the aspiration to position Uttarakhand as the spiritual capital of the world, Dhami stressed on the need for the developmental efforts to align with this overarching objective. He also directed the officials to accelerate the implementation of the ‘One District, One Mela’ campaign to revitalise local economies through culturally vibrant and environmentally sustainable fairs. The select events have also to be elevated to the status of State Fairs (Rajkiya Mela) and provided financial support, wider publicity, and administrative assistance while maintaining the independence of existing organisers. These fairs, he said, must serve as platforms for showcasing local art, culture, cuisine, and crafts while strengthening community engagement and tourism.
Dhami also directed creation of Spiritual Villages at the block level, beginning with one model village in each block in order to deepen the state’s spiritual identity. He added that these villages will host Yoga centres, Ayurvedic wellness facilities, meditation halls, and platforms for spiritual education and mental well-being, to strengthen and improve local health, livelihoods, and Uttarakhand’s appeal as a global destination for spiritual and wellness tourism. In respect of the border area development, the CM instructed the officials to intensify monitoring of schemes related to homestays, self-employment, horticulture, agriculture, and solar energy in villages identified under the Vibrant Village Programme. He stressed on the transformation of border settlements into tourism hubs with each village along the international boundary to be developed as a unique attraction. He also reviewed preparations for the winter Char Dham Yatra and issued directions to the officials to coordinate with hotels, homestays, and service providers in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Rudraprayag to ensure high-quality facilities for pilgrims. The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) were asked to launch special discount packages to promote winter tourism and generate employment for local communities.
The CM further urged the DMs to make optimal use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for public welfare and to prioritise projects that directly benefit citizens and accelerate grassroots development. He also directed the officials to ensure bonfires, night shelters, and snow clearance in vulnerable areas in view of the approaching winter season. Stressing on environmental responsibility, Dhami called for the timely removal of waste left by pilgrims and along yatra routes to preserve the sanctity and natural beauty of religious sites.
During the meeting, Dhami emphasised on the need to strengthen the local economy through holistic rural and urban development, directing districts to prepare action plans for making GI-tagged products export-ready and to design schemes for developing tourist spots at the district and block levels. He also stressed on cleanliness and beautification of towns and the cities and also on gardening work and creating green spaces, and sanitation at public transport hubs and major roads.
Dhami also ordered regular verification and inspection drives, particularly in border areas and tourist hotspots. He mandated the installation of CCTV cameras in cities and sensitive zones, with real-time monitoring and prompt reporting of resource requirements to the state headquarters. To combat drug abuse, he announced the formation of dedicated de-addiction teams under the Director General of Police and the installation of surveillance systems in vulnerable areas. He reiterated the need for effective management of stray cattle, prevention of land encroachments, and smooth functioning of health services and horticultural development. Dhami asked District Magistrates to explore the creation of Spiritual Economic Zones in regions such as Dronagiri in Dwarahat (Almora) and Shyamla Tal–Devidhura in Champawat and to prepare detailed action plans for their development. He urged a compassionate and proactive approach to healthcare delivery with regular monitoring, surprise inspections of hospitals, and immediate corrective measures wherever necessary. He further stressed the timely resolution of public grievances through platforms such as the CM Helpline, BDC meetings, Tehsil Diwas, and public hearings.
Addressing the growing problem of traffic congestion in urban centres, Dhami instructed the officials to implement time-bound solutions and ensure that all state roads are made pothole-free through high-quality repair work. He called for the identification of frequently damaged roads and high-complaint areas, ensuring targeted monitoring and timely improvements, and emphasised transparency and accountability in road repair monitoring as essential.
The meeting was attended amongst others by Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, DGP Deepam Seth, ADG (Intelligence and Security) Abhinav Kumar, and Kumaon Divisional Commissioner Deepak Rawat.
