New Delhi/Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi on Friday and held discussions on several key issues concerning the state.
The Chief Minister said that in view of the upcoming Kumbh 2027 in Rishikesh, Haridwar, and other pilgrimage areas, the state requires strong support from the Centre for infrastructure development and housing schemes.
He expressed gratitude to the Union Minister for approving the ₹547.83 crore project under the RDSS scheme for undergrounding and automation of HT/LT power lines in the Rishikesh Ganga Corridor, and further requested early approval for a similar ₹315 crore proposal for the Haridwar Kumbh area.
On the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), CM Dhami pointed out that the current Whitelisting and Redeemable Voucher system has failed to attract private developers. He urged for the restoration of the earlier 40:40:20 phased payment model, which would accelerate implementation.
He informed that under the scheme’s AHP component, 15,960 housing units are under construction in the state, of which 15,281 have already been allotted to beneficiaries. However, due to unorganised income and low CIBIL scores, EWS beneficiaries are struggling to secure loans from leading banks. The Chief Minister requested that the Centre issue special guidelines to banks, NBFCs, SLBC, and RBI to ensure easier credit access for beneficiaries.
Highlighting tourism and cultural development, Dhami said the state is working on transforming Rishikesh-Ganga, Haridwar-Ganga, and the Sharda Riverfront in Tanakpur into world-class religious and cultural destinations. He sought ₹100 crore support from THDC’s CSR funds, noting that this would not only strengthen the Namami Gange programme but also boost sustainable tourism and local livelihoods.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that with the Centre’s support, Uttarakhand will not only host a grand, safe, and environmentally sensitive Kumbh 2027, but also achieve new milestones in housing and infrastructure development.
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar assured full support to the state.
