Uttarakhand govt plans to set up smart cities

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat asked officials to prepare a separate master plan for smart cities immediately

With pressure mounting in cities like Dehradun and Haridwar due to rising urbanisation, the Uttarakhand government is working on a plan to develop a smart city in all 13 districts of the hill state.

A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Harish Rawat at a recent review meeting of the urban development department here.

The chief minister directed the departmental officials to identify areas in each district for building smart cities. "Identify the land and make a working plan accordingly," Rawat told the officials.

Rawat said the officials must also start preparations of a separate master plan for smart cities immediately. "We want to stop rapid urbanisation in the cities," Rawat noted. Rawat said the government should not only focus on urban planning but also take steps for conservation of natural resources.

The chief minister said the nagar nigams and municipalities should also ensure the encroachment on the rivers should not take place. Trees should be planted in all those areas where there is less or no greenery. "We should take benefit of all the centrally-sponsored schemes in this regard," he said.

The chief minister also asked the department to give fresh impetus on the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana for the urban areas. He expressed his grave concern over the slow pace of work in the Rajiv Gandhi housing scheme and said all those officials who are found guilty in this regard would be punished.