By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 8 Sep: Sources in the government have claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Uttarakhand on 11 or 12 September to meet disaster-affected people. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan today held an informal meeting with the officials to review the preparations for the possible tour.
Sources claimed that, so far, the state government has not received any official confirmation or detailed programme of his visit, but indications are that the Prime Minister may arrive in Uttarakhand on either 11 or 12 September and visit the disaster hit areas in the state. In view of this, the administration has begun preliminary arrangements. Sources have also claimed that Modi is likely to visit Dharali and Harsil in particular during his upcoming visit.
Bardhan, during today’s meeting, outlined the framework of preparations. On 11 September, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Varanasi, and it is being said that if time permits, he may travel directly to Uttarakhand the same day, otherwise he will arrive on 12 September. During the tour, he is likely to meet disaster-hit families and may also visit Dharali and Tharali.
It may be recalled that the PM has already visited Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, which were among the states most severely impacted by the monsoon disaster. However, he is yet to come to Uttarakhand.
