Kunjwal blames successive govts for backwardness of hill areas

"Unfortunately, the successive governments in the state have not been serious about the development of hill areas, forcing locals to migrate to different places in search of livelihood," Kunjwal told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing three-day vendors' development meet here yesterday.

Noting that statehood was granted to Uttarakhand to honour the aspirations of the hill people, he said it was unfortunate that those for whom the state was created were yet to get their due.

He also backed the demand for summer capital status to Gairsain, which is located between the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the state.

Kunjwal said holding of a cabinet meeting by the Vijay Bahuguna government there was a positive step in the direction.

It will speed up development and initiate the process of infrastructure building in the area which is connected with the sentiments of the hill people, he said.

The state government is holding its much hyped Cabinet meeting at Gairsain today. The move is expected to give a boost to development activities in the hill region of the state.