By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 Aug: The Uttarakhand Assembly today passed the first Supplementary Demands for the financial year 2025-26 amounting to about Rs 5315.39 crores, even as Opposition benches continued raising slogans. The demands, which had been introduced a day earlier, were passed without discussion, as Treasury benches went ahead with approval in the midst of uproar.
The supplementary budget provides Rs 2152.37 crores under the revenue head and Rs 3163.02 crores under the capital head, with Rs 1689.13 crores falling under centrally sponsored schemes and Rs 215 crores under externally aided projects.
One of the significant developments is the allocation of Rs 925 crores for land acquisition and utility shifting linked to the elevated road project along the Rispana and Bindal rivers. The budget also makes a provision of Rs 263.94 crores for relief works in Joshimath and other areas affected by land subsidence and natural calamities, along with Rs 13 crores for the reconstruction of disaster-affected properties at the district level. Preparations for the Kumbh Mela 2027 have been given a significant allocation of Rs 200 crores for large-scale construction works. Expansion of Pantnagar Airport will receive Rs 188.55 crores and the Public Works Department has been allotted Rs 90 crores for ongoing projects.
Further allocations include Rs 90 crores for a KFW-supported project under the Drinking Water Department, Rs 48 crores for the Atal Renewal and Urban Transformation Mission, Rs 50 crores each for the development of Rishikesh as a Yoga City and Haridwar as a Tourism City, and Rs 60 crores for construction of residential buildings for the Police Department. The Manaskhand Mala Mission will receive Rs 15 crores for infrastructure development, while Rs 200 crores has been provided for infrastructure works across various State departments.
The supplementary budget also earmarks Rs 40 crores for construction works related to the Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra and Rs 25 crores for strengthening internal roads at tourist sites. Rs 23.66 crores has been provided under the National Glacier Lake Outburst Flood and Risk Mitigation Programme, and Rs 5 crores for Himalayan earthquake risk assessment and mitigation. In the health and welfare sector, allocations include Rs 5 crores for construction of rest houses for hospital attendants, Rs 125 crores as electricity tariff subsidy, and Rs 114.17 crores for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission has been allocated Rs 25.55 crores, while Rs 40 crores has been earmarked for pending works under PM Gram Sadak Yojana Phases I and II. Mission Shakti-Samarthya has received Rs 15 crores under the Maternity Benefit Scheme. Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) has been granted Rs 95.25 crores, while Rs 10 crores each has been provided to the Chief Minister State Agriculture Development Scheme and the Chief Minister Single Women Self-Employment Scheme. The Millet Mission will be supported with Rs 8 crores.
Other noteworthy provisions include Rs 120 crores for advertisements and establishments under the Information Department, Rs 78.89 crores for expansion and modernisation of fire services under the NDRF, Rs 75 crores for maintenance of state roads and culverts, and Rs 50 crores for the Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana. Rs 50 crores has been sanctioned for the Sharda River Front Plan and an equal amount for the Women’s Sports College in Champawat. Solar panel installations for pumping-based water schemes will receive Rs 25 crores, and Rs 13 crores has been allocated to the Disaster Mitigation Fund.
Disaster management and rehabilitation measures also include a provision of Rs 5 crores for rehabilitation of families affected by natural disasters, Rs 20 crores for catchment area treatment under the CAMPA CAT Plan, Rs 20 crores for free textbooks and teaching material for students, Rs 20 crores for the Tata Technology Model, Rs 18 crores for awards to winners of national competitions, and Rs 6 crores for organisation of training camps. To assist micro, small and medium enterprises, Rs 10 crores has been earmarked, while another Rs 10 crores has been allotted for compensating losses incurred by the Transport Corporation in operating buses on hill routes.
The supplementary demands also seek to provide Rs 3.1 crores for free travel facilities for specified passenger categories on Transport Corporation buses, Rs 5 crores for laptops and internet support to revenue sub-inspectors and inspectors, Rs 10 crores for silage supply to milch animals, Rs 5 crores for cowshed construction, Rs 5 crores for the Family Identity Card scheme, and Rs 3 crores for training on the amended IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act. Additionally, Rs 2.86 crores has been provided for EWS housing under Urban Development and Rs 2.5 crores has been earmarked for the Uttarakhand Martyrs’ Fund.
