Dehradun: On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Rishikesh on Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Thursday wrote to him seeking release of remaining Rs 1200 crore of the package cleared by the Centre for the state to deal with effects of the devastating natural calamity of 2013.
In the letter written to the Prime Minister a day before his first visit to the state after assuming office, Rawat drew his attention to the problems faced by Uttarakhand which is still batlling the effects of the June, 2013 calamity and sought release of the remaining funds out of the total package sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Uttarakhand for rebuilding roads and bridges.
It will help the state government build helipads in the calamity-affected areas which may help evacuate people in case of any future emergencies, he said.
The Chief Minister also demanded that the power of forest land transfer for non-forestry purpose upto five Ha of land be delegated to the state government by the Union Ministry of Environment earlier be extended upto December 2016.
The Chief Minister also spoke of the revenue shortfall caused to Uttarakhand by the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commision and sought continuation of 90:10 funding pattern in central sector schemes given to Uttarakhand as a special category state.
Modi is coming to Rishikesh tomorrow to see Swami Dayanand Giri who is ailing at the latter's ashram in Sheeshamjhari area of the town.
Modi's association with the swami goes back to his RSS days.
