Dehradun: To solve the problem of excessive silt deposition in reservoirs like Baur, Haripura, Tumaria, Nanak Sagar of Uttarakhand and to promote tourism activities and fisheries in these reservoirs, Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi has directed to formulate a policy to make desilting of reservoirs royalty free. In this regard, the Chief Secretary has directed the Irrigation Department to obtain no objection from all the concerned departments. She has directed that if the silt of Baur and Haripura reservoirs is not being used commercially by the department, then work should be started immediately to formulate a policy to make silt removal of these reservoirs royalty free. In this regard, the Chief Secretary has given 15 days’ time to the Irrigation Department and directed to conduct a joint inspection with the Forest Department. She said that the reservoirs are more than fifty years old. In such a situation, the capacity of the reservoirs is continuously decreasing. Desilting is necessary to solve challenges like shortage of water for irrigation and floods to farmers in future due to excessive silt in reservoirs, and to promote tourism activities and fisheries in reservoirs.
In the meeting of Expenditure Finance Committee at the Secretariat, Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi gave financial approval for the construction of concrete road from Baba Dal Temple in Gadarpur of Udham Singh Nagar to Baur Reservoir to Gularbhoj-Koolha Tilpuri Forest Barrier through the Irrigation Department. Baur and Haripura reservoirs are located in Gadarpur / Bajpur development block of Udham Singh Nagar district. The length of these dams is 9.500 km and 7.900 km respectively and the water holding capacity is 3650 and 1000 m. cubic feet. Water is stored in the reservoirs from the rainy season floods, water is given to the farmers for irrigation throughout the year in these reservoirs. This area is also to be developed as a tourism hub by the Uttarakhand government. Baur-Haripura reservoir has also been included in the ambitious scheme of Uttarakhand Government 13 Districts 13 Tourist Destinations . To promote tourism activities in these water bodies, the tourism department has been organizing boating and other water sports for tourists for the past few years, which attracts a large number of tourists. Due to the access roads to the said water bodies being unpaved, a lot of difficulties are being faced in the smooth movement of tourists, for which this scheme has been formulated. The scheme is being funded under Missing Link Funding.
In today’s Expenditure Finance Committee, Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi also approved the construction of 32 residential buildings for judicial personnel in Mohkampur Dehradun. She directed that solar panels should be mandatorily arranged in the said residential buildings and work should be done on the concept of green building.
Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi has directed for a comprehensive study for the strengthening of Animal Breeding Farm Kalsi in Dehradun. Animal Breeding Farm, Kalsi is established in Dehradun district and at present it has been designated as the Center of Excellence on Indigenous Breeds in the country by the Government of India. Breed improvement program is being conducted at this farm with the technique of embryo transplantation. Strengthening of the farm is proposed under the centrally funded National Gokul Mission Yojna. The strengthening of biosecurity on the farm is to protect the livestock organized at the institution from infectious diseases. Work is to be done to provide hands-on training to the livestock keepers by setting up demonstration units at the training center established in the farm and better facilities will be provided to the livestock keepers who come for training. The scheme is 100% funded under the National Gokul Mission Yojna of the Government of India.
Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi has also given in-principle approval for the work of strengthening the Heifer Rearing Farm at Pashulok Rishikesh. The work of setting up the Heifer Rearing Farm in Pashulok Rishikesh in the year 2019 was done under the RIDF scheme and the farm aims to provide crossbred cows to the livestock farmers of the state at a reasonable price. At present, fodder for animals is produced on 37.9 acres of land available on the project and under the scheme, additional fodder and silage are to be produced on 38.7 acres of land so that the livestock managed on the project can get sufficient amount of fodder. Animals of high genetic quality will be made available to the livestock farmers of the state from the project. The scheme is 100 percent funded under the National Gokul Mission Yojna of the Government of India.
Secretary Animal Husbandry, Medical and Health, Irrigation and officials of related departments were present in the meeting.
