Uttarakhand Assembly

Uttarakhand cabinet expansion buzz intensifies as CM Dhami meets BJP MLAs

Cabinet expansion in CM Dhami's government is likely during Navratri, with legislators lobbying for berths as the move is seen as part of a broader strategy ahead of the 2027 state elections

Uttarakhand cabinet clears geothermal energy policy to boost RE goals

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Geothermal Energy Policy, under which scientific and technical research will be encouraged for the exploration of geothermal resources in the state. Official sources said here that the policy was approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Sources said that the policy's objective is to encourage scientific and technical research for the exploration of economically and environmentally viable geothermal resources in the state. They said that through geothermal energy, carbon emissions in the state will be reduced, and energy security will be strengthened. The policy will be implemented by the Energy Department in collaboration with various agencies. The Cabinet also approved the formation of a project management unit (PMU) for studies related to increasing the carrying capacity of bridges under the Public Works Department. In another decision, the Cabinet also approved the establishment of a digital

Cong demands speaker, state BJP chief resign after U'khand FM's exit

Former Uttarakhand Assembly speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal on Friday said the resignation of cabinet minister Premchand Agarwal was not enough and demanded the resignations of incumbent Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan and state BJP president Mahendra Bhatt also from their posts for not being fair to the hill people despite representing the hills themselves. Agarwal, who held key portfolios like finance and parliamentary affairs in the Pushkar Singh Dhami cabinet, resigned after his "unparliamentary" remarks against the hill people during the Budget Session created a major controversy. Kunjwal accused Speaker Bhushan of behaving in the House in a partisan manner like a political party leader despite occupying a constitutional post when the Agarwal episode was going on. Daughter of former chief minister B C Khanduri, the Speaker is an MLA from Kotdwar. "The Chair is supposed to be neutral. But her conduct was obviously partisan. "She should have asked Agarwal to immediately take back hi

Land reform law is a step towards innovation: Uttarakhand CM Dhami

Chief Minister Dhami also added that the state government has taken a decision in accordance with the public sentiments and expectations of the people of the state

Uttarakhand Cabinet approves new land law to 'protect' state's resources

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Wednesday approved a stringent land law to "protect" the state's resources and "maintain" its original identity. People of the state had long been demanding the imposition of limits on individuals buying land in the state, officials said. Dhami had first expressed his intentions to bring a stringent land law in the state in September last year. Widespread violations of land purchase rules are being investigated, he had said at a press conference here in September and promised resolution of the longstanding demand for stricter land laws. "Fully respecting the long-standing demand of the people of the state and their sentiments, today the cabinet has approved a strict land law. This historic step will protect the resources of the state, cultural heritage and the rights of the citizens, as well as play an important role in maintaining the original identity of the state," Dhami said in a post on X soon after the Cabinet's decision on Wednesday. "Our governme

Govt is protector of state, culture, original form: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

The Chief Minister said that his government is fully committed to the interests of the people and he would never let their trust break

BJP sweeps Uttarakhand local body polls, wins 10 of 11 mayoral seats

The BJP on Sunday swept the urban local body elections in Uttarakhand, winning 10 out of 11 mayoral seats to emerge as the dominant party in the municipal councils and nagar panchayats. While the BJP won 10 mayoral seats, an Independent candidate bagged the remaining seat, State Election Commissioner Sushil Kumar told PTI. However, the counting which began on Saturday is still underway and the results of all the 100 urban local bodies which went to the polls on January 23 are likely to be out by late afternoon, Kumar said. Polling to 11 municipal corporations, 43 municipal councils, and 46 nagar panchayats was held by ballot on Thursday with 65.4 per cent of voters exercising their franchise. A total of 5,405 candidates, including 72 running for 11 mayoral posts, 445 for municipal council chairperson and 4,888 for municipal councillors and members, were in the fray. The mayoral seats won by the BJP included Dehradun (Saurabh Thapliyal), Rishikesh (Shambhu Paswan), Kashipur (Dipak

Uttarakhand UCC by Jan 26: New rules for live-in and marriages explained

Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code introduces new regulations for live-in relationships, marriages, and civil matters, supported by a dedicated portal to streamline registrations and address complaints

CM Dhami meets MPs as BJP prepares for upcoming Municipal polls in U'khand

discussion was held in the presence of BJP National General Secretary and State In-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam

CM Dhami thanks PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah for Rs 139 cr disaster relief

Approval was made by a high-level committee chaired by Amit Shah, which approved Rs 1115.67 crore for disaster reduction and capacity-building projects for various states, including Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand bypoll: 57.64% turnout in Kedarnath, 8.8% drop from last poll

A voter turnout of 57.64 per cent was recorded in the Kedarnath Assembly bypoll in Uttarakhand till 6 pm on Wednesday. "The bypoll went off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from the constituency. Till the end of polling at 6 pm, 57.64 per cent of the electorate cast their votes," Chief Electoral Officer BVRC Purushottam said. After a slow start at 8 am, the number of voters at polling booths swelled as the day progressed. A total of 173 polling booths were set up in the constituency, 130 of them equipped with CCTV cameras. The booths were monitored by the offices of the district and chief election officers as well as the Election Commission through webcasting, Purushottam said. In the last Assembly polls in Uttarakhand in 2022, Kedarnath recorded 66.43 per cent polling, officials said. Earlier in the day, district electoral officer Saurabh Gaharwar visited polling booths to ensure voting was going on smoothly. He also appealed to people to come out in large numbers to

Uttarakhand: CM Dhami meets Union Minister Shekhawat to boost tourism

"I had a cordial meeting with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ji today. He is a visionary. He has an effective roadmap of development for Devbhoomi," Shekhawat said

CM Pushkar Dhami pays tribute to martyrs of Uttarakhand state movement

He stressed that the state government is making continuous efforts to make this decade the decade of Uttarakhand, adding that the state is being developed as per the public expectations

Supplementary Budget of over Rs 5,000 cr tabled in Uttarakhand Assembly

The first supplementary budget of Rs 5,013.05 crore for the ongoing fiscal was tabled on Thursday in the Uttarakhand Assembly here, making substantial provisions for public welfare projects. "Our government is dedicated to public welfare. In the main annual budget, we brought several important projects. In this supplementary budget also, we have made significant provisions for public welfare projects, state finance minister Premchand Aggrawal said while presenting it in the house on the second day of its ongoing monsoon session. The size of the supplementary budget is Rs 5,013.05 crore, which includes a revenue expenditure of Rs 3,756.89 crore and a capital expenditure of Rs 1,256.16 crore. It makes a provision of Rs 1,804.82 crore for resource-related projects, out of which Rs 1,531.65 crore are meant for centrally aided and Rs 273.17 crore for externally aided projects, he said. A provision of Rs 718.40 crore has been made in the budget for the State Disaster Response Force, he .

'Godman' illegally builds temple near lake in Bageshwar, probe ordered

A self-styled godman has allegedly built an unauthorised temple in the Suderdhunga river valley close to a sacred lake originating from a glacier in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district, angering locals who have accused him of desecrating the lake by bathing in it. According to officials, Baba Chaitanya Akash alias Aditya Kailash managed to convince some locals to help him construct the temple in the eco-sensitive zone by telling them that he had received divine orders in a dream to build it. The matter was referred to the police for an investigation after an application was received from the locals in this regard, Bageshwar District Magistrate Anuradha Pal told PTI on the phone on Tuesday. The road to the spot where the temple has been built passes through difficult terrain and remains closed during monsoon, she said. "The structure made of wood and stone is a small temple. It is illegal and built on no man's land," Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde said. It seems th

U'khand bypolls: Ex-CM Harish Rawat detained after violence in Manglaur

As per reports, Harish Rawat was detained by police while attempting to visit a polling booth in Libberheri after being accused of disrupting the democratic process

People protest over firing incident in Dehradun, CM Dhami warns criminals

People held a protest in the Raipur area here on Tuesday against the firing incident in Dobhal Chowk in which one person was killed and two more were injured, while police arrested the main suspect and another man in connection with the case. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warned that no one would be allowed to disrupt Uttarakhand's peace and said the criminals should leave the state or face strict action. Police officials said main suspect Ramveer of Muzaffarnagar was arrested from Rajasthan's Kotputli district, and another suspect, Ankush alias Golu, was nabbed from Raipur. So far, five people have been apprehended. The firing followed a dispute between two sides late Sunday night involving a vehicle. During the altercation, one group fired gunshots, killing vehicle owner Deepak Badola and injuring his friends Manoj Negi and Sanjay Chhetri. On Monday, police arrested Sonu Bhardwaj, his brother Monu Bhardwaj and Shambhu Yadav. Authorities are searching for two more people, th

Dhami launches several development schemes worth Rs 229.3 cr in Gopeshwar

The CM said the state government resolves to make Uttarakhand the best state in the country

Rs 89,230 cr budget for Uttarakhand's inclusive development: CM Dhami

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday tabled the annual budget of more than Rs 89,000 crore for financial year 2024-25 in the state assembly. Presenting the budget in the House, state finance minister Premchand Agarwal said it was an inclusive budget aimed at building a developed Uttarakhand. The budget will be passed on March 1 after a debate in the house over the next few days.

UCC has vote, support, blessings of state people: Uttarakhand CM Dhami

The Chief Minister further said that just as the holy ganges emerges from Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, in the same manner, the UCC bill has also emerged from the state