Uttarakhand likely to get new Capital

CM working on J&K model of two Capitals

After repeated attempts to have its permanent capital, Uttarakhand may at last have a new Capital at Gairsain, a remote hilly town in the Chamoli district.

As the successive governments in the hill state failed to resolve the permanent capital issue, chief minister Vijay Bahuguna is now working on a plan to give capital status to Gairsain on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir, which has two Capitals — Srinagar and Jammu.

“This is a political move which is being supported by a section of state Congress leaders like Satpal Maharaj,” said a top Congress leader.

Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000 and Dehradun was made its interim Capital. The first BJP government set up a one-man Virender Dixit judicial commission to resolve the permanent capital issue in 2001. The commission had submitted its 250-page report in 2008 to the government. However, no action has been taken so far.

Under the new plan, a Cabinet meeting will be held at Gairsain on October 2. “Gairsain is a hilly area and a symbol of backwardness as far as development is concerned. So, we will hold a state Cabinet meeting there on October 2 this year,” Bahuguna said. He refused to elaborate on the plan related to the development of Gairsain as a full-fledged Capital.

The 13th Finance Commission had given Rs 88 crore to Uttarakhand for setting up a new vidhan sabha in the hill state but the state government has so far failed to make any progress in this regard.

Nevertheless, Bahuguna asserted that the government will also set up a separate fund of Rs 100 crore for the development of backward blocks. “We are committed to the development of backward and border areas of the state,” he said.

The CM also said efforts will be made to convene Assembly sessions at Gairsain in future. “If not this year, we would surely hold at least one Assembly session in a year from next year,” he said.