Development of border areas foremost priority: Bahuguna

Terming development of border and remote hill districts as his foremost priority, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today said his concentration is on providing basic infrastructure, education and health facilities to people in the farthest corners of the state.
"Providing roads, water, electricity, education and health services to all far off and border areas is our first and foremost commitment," Bahuguna said addressing a public meeting at Dwarahat.
Dwarahat is important from the point of view of tourism as it has many historical sites, he said.
Describing tourism as the backbone of development in hill areas, Bahuguna said the government is setting up 22 helipads for better connectivity in high altitude areas.

Work is underway in Chiniyalisaur, Naini Saini and Pantnagar airstrips, he said.
He informed people of the recent launch of a flight between Dehradun and Lucknow and told them that a flight between the state capital and Kathmandu may soon be started.

Noting that development could be achieved if officials worked as a team with proper coordination among themselves, the chief minister said quality must be maintained while carrying out development works.
Fifteen girls were given FDs (of Rs 2850 each) under CM Ballika Shiksha Protsahan Yojana. Till now, FDs for 5300 girl students have been made for Almora district.

This year 232 more girl students would benefit from the scheme than last year.
The CM announced that a polytechnic college in Chaukhutia, a college in Masi, a science faculty in Nowgaon Inter College, a pumping scheme on Maliya river have been approved for development of the area.
Bahuguna advocated organising multi purpose camps at block headquarters in all districts to resolve peoples' problems.