Rishikesh, June 3
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the 117th Executive Committee meeting of the All India Mayors’ Council held at Hotel Natraj, Rishikesh. On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of three projects worth ₹29.78 crore. This included the inauguration of one project worth ₹23.15 crore and the foundation stones of two projects worth ₹6.63 crore.
Welcoming the mayors of various cities, the Chief Minister said that mayors are the first citizens of their cities and also represent the hopes, expectations, and trust of the residents. He emphasized that their decisions impact the future of generations to come. He remarked that while the soul of India resides in its villages, the dreams, aspirations, and future possibilities of its citizens take shape in its cities.
The Chief Minister highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special bond with Uttarakhand, noting that the Prime Minister spent important moments of his life in the state and is well acquainted with every region. He shared that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, this year’s Char Dham Yatra has set a new record, with over 3 million devotees visiting in just 45 days. He stressed that the government’s priority is to ensure the pilgrimage is simple, smooth, and safe. He added that earlier, only 500 people visited Adi Kailash, but this year nearly 1,000 devotees are arriving daily. He also mentioned that 2.4 million people have already visited Maa Purnagiri Temple, and in the past four years, more than 230 million tourists have come to Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister said that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, unprecedented work has been done in urban development across India. Through the Swachh Bharat Mission, a new culture of cleanliness has emerged in thousands of cities. The Smart City Mission has created a modern and organized model of urban development. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has fulfilled the dream of home ownership for millions of poor families, while the PM SVANidhi scheme has empowered street vendors to become self-reliant.
Dhami added that under the Prime Minister’s guidance, urban development in Uttarakhand has gained new momentum. Solid waste management and sanitation systems are being strengthened in every town under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Citizens are benefiting from various welfare schemes such as the Smart City Mission, PM SVANidhi, PM Awas Yojana, AMRUT Mission, Open Defecation Free campaign, and legacy waste management.
The Chief Minister also announced that for the first time, Urban Health and Wellness Centers have been established in municipal bodies to provide accessible healthcare services to poor families in urban areas. The state has launched a shelter scheme for stray cattle and introduced an Animal Birth Control program to control the growing population of stray dogs. Effective steps are also being taken to develop green zones and control pollution.
CM emphasized that cities reflect the true image of the nation before the world. If cities are well-organized, clean, safe, and developed, India will be seen as a strong, prosperous, and leading nation. He concluded by saying: “If cities are clean, India will be clean. If cities are organized, India will be organized. If every city is strong, safe, and prosperous, India will surely become a developed nation.”
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal added that, in line with the vision of Developed India 2047, Uttarakhand is also working towards becoming a developed state. He highlighted the importance of developing self-reliant metropolitan areas through solar energy, waste management, rainwater harvesting, local and small industries, and sustainable urban growth.
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for several projects in Rishikesh: construction of EV charging stations at 10 locations costing ₹1.80 crore, rainwater harvesting projects at 12 locations costing ₹4.83 crore, and a compost plant and sanitary landfill site at Lal Pani Beat under the Solid Waste Management scheme costing ₹23.15 crore. He also inspected various sites during the visit.
