Varanasi: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today participated in the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council, chaired by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in Varanasi. The meeting saw the presence of top leadership from the central zone, including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Dev Sai.
Uttarakhand’s Strategic Importance Highlighted
Addressing the council, CM Dhami emphasized the strategic importance of Uttarakhand as a border state and underscored the need for strengthened infrastructure and logistics support in the border villages adjoining international borders. He requested enhanced assistance from the Border Roads Organization (BRO) for road connectivity and logistics, and advocated for improved communication and security infrastructure in the region.
Push for Border Village Development & Anti-Migration Measures
The Chief Minister urged the expansion of facilities under the Vibrant Villages Programme, which aims to revitalize border villages and prevent outmigration. He called for the rollout of BharatNet, 4G connectivity, and satellite-based communication services to improve digital and emergency communications in remote areas.
Requests for Policy Support and National Schemes
Highlighting the unique geographic and economic challenges of Uttarakhand, CM Dhami requested:
- Policy flexibility tailored to the state’s needs
- Technical support for efficient implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Gramin Sadak Yojana
- A lump sum central grant allocation under PMAY
- Support for establishing a Glacier Study Centre to monitor climate change impacts
- A Biodiversity Conservation Institute to protect Uttarakhand’s fragile ecosystems
- Promotion of Tourism and Cultural Heritage
Recognizing the vast potential of adventure and spiritual tourism, CM Dhami sought central assistance for setting up an International Adventure Sports Training Centre and organizing two upcoming mega events:
- The Nanda Raj Jat Yatra (2026)
- The Kumbh Mela (2027) in Uttarakhand
He also mentioned the launch of the country’s first Yoga Policy in Uttarakhand and the state’s plan to create two Spiritual Economic Zones to boost Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Spiritual Tourism.
Commitment to Growth Amid Challenges
Dhami pointed out that 71% of Uttarakhand’s area is forested and 80% is mountainous, limiting economic activity due to frequent natural disasters and difficult terrain. Yet, despite these challenges, the state’s economy has grown by 1.5 times, reflecting resilient governance and people-centric development.
He concluded by praising the Central Zonal Council for resolving long-pending inter-state and policy matters and commended the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in making India more secure, self-reliant, and development-oriented.
