Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has sealed more than 250 “illegal” madrasas and removed encroachments from over 10,000 acres of government land as part of a major statewide drive against unlawful institutions and violations of prescribed norms, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the action was taken to preserve the cultural identity and original character of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. “Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has its own distinct cultural identity. To preserve this heritage and maintain the state’s original character, our government is working with full commitment,” Dhami stated.
Action Against Unauthorised Religious Structures
The Chief Minister said that illegal encroachments carried out in the name of religious structures had been removed from more than 10,000 acres of government land across the state. As part of the same drive, over 250 unauthorised madrasas were sealed for allegedly functioning in violation of established rules and norms.
According to Dhami, these madrasas were imparting education without authorisation and against prescribed regulations. He asserted that the government would not compromise on law and order, social harmony, or the cultural ethos of the state. “Our government’s clear resolve is that there will be no compromise with the culture of Devbhoomi, social balance, and law and order,” he said.
Focus on Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also addressed a one-day workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience organised at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, in virtual mode on Friday. He said the workshop would include in-depth discussions on key areas such as disaster risk reduction, pre-disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and community participation.
According to an official release, the workshop aims to formulate concrete strategies to strengthen technological innovation, research collaboration, and partnerships in disaster management. Dhami said that the outcomes of the workshop would be beneficial not only for Uttarakhand but for the entire Himalayan region.
Scientific Approach to Mitigate Natural Disasters
Referring to frequent natural disasters in Uttarakhand—such as earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, avalanches, and forest fires—the Chief Minister stressed that their adverse impacts could be reduced through a scientific approach, timely preparedness, and collective efforts.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the 4P mantra—Predict, Prevent, Prepare, Protect—for effective disaster risk reduction, and that the Uttarakhand government is working on a 10-point agenda aligned with this vision.
Use of Technology in Disaster Management
Dhami said the state government is continuously strengthening pre-disaster preparedness through the use of modern technology, including AI-based early warning systems, digital monitoring mechanisms, glacier research centres, drone surveillance, GIS mapping, satellite monitoring, rapid response teams, and forest fire early warning systems. A comprehensive forest fire management plan is also being implemented, he added.
The Chief Minister further stated that enhanced coordination has been established among the Disaster Management Department, Forest Department, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration to ensure swift and effective disaster response across the state.
