 "Harish Rawat")
Uttarakhand, still recovering from the floods that hit the state in 2013, is taking several steps to reconstruct and boost its industry for growth. In an interaction with Shishir Prashant, Chief Minister Harish Rawat shares some of the plans. Edited excerpts:
Uttarkhand has fared poorly on the World Bank’s ‘ease of doing business’ index, scoring only 13.36 per cent and standing 23rd. What steps you are taking to improve this?
We have made our single-window system for approvals more effective. The committees in districts will be headed by district magistrates and those at the state level by the chief secretary. These are to address the situation if any department does not respond favourably to an application in a month’s time. We are also providing manpower inventory for industry; our base of skilled manpower can be useful for industrial growth. The law-and-order situation in Uttarakhand is far better than other states. These should help us tremendously enhance ease of doing business in the state. Besides, power tariff here is the lowest and we are also strengthening the fundamentals.
How much reconstruction work has taken place at Kedarnath and other areas that had been affected by floods in 2013?
Connectivity works of all kinds — drinking water, electricity, road and other things — have been completed. The ‘Chardham’ yatra is back on track. This year, more than one million people have visited the Chardham area, including Hemkunt Sahib. We are hoping to exceed this count and set a new record next year.
The first phase of reconstruction work has been completed. Now, we have launched the second phase, where we are constructing ropeways, tunnels, all-weather roads and other vital infrastructure facilities at Kedarnath and other Chardham areas. We are also constructing ghats and putting up sewage treatment plants (STPs). We have to rehabilitate nearly 350 villages that had been declared unsafe.
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Overall, for the second phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation work, we need approximately Rs 10,000 crore. We will definitely need central assistance; the state alone cannot do this from its own resources. The most challenging task was reconstruction of Kedarnath; everybody has appreciated our work there.
The National Green Tribunal recently banned the construction of buildings within 200 metres of the shores of the Ganga. What is the state government’s position on this?
I think this is too much. Practically speaking, 50-75 metres should be fine, up to 100 metres from the defined riverbed at most. We have taken up the issue with the National Green Tribunal. Our officers have shared the state government’s concerns with the body. It is virtually an impossible task to remove houses.
Recently, Uttarakhand signed an MoU with the centre under the 24X7 power initiative, where the state has committed itself to setting a target of 14 per cent AT&C losses by 2019-20. What steps have been taken to achieve this?
We were able to reduce transmission losses by two percentage points last year. We are planning to reduce it further by one percentage point this financial year. A one-percentage-point reduction every year will help us achieve this target. We have plugged the loopholes and stopped theft in major areas.
According to sample registration system data, the maternal mortality rate for Uttarakhand in 2010-12, at 292 per 100,000 live births, was much higher than the all-India figure. What explains this large gap, especially when Uttarakhand is doing better in terms of infant mortality rate?
We have taken steps for improvement. We are encouraging institutional deliveries, mainly through the 108 ambulance service. Mother care has been made more effective through Accredited Social Health Activist (Asha) and other means. We have increased food supplements; 2 kg of mandua (finger millet), which contains high minerals like iron and magnesium, is now being provided. For removing iodine deficiency, we are providing one kg of iodised salt. In addition to this, one kg of black soybeen is being given to pregnant and lactating women — all free of cost. This is our focused area where the government is working with full vigour and energy.
What steps have been taken for the MSME sector, especially given the new target to achieve 15 per cent year-on-year growth for the sector?
We are focusing on family-based industry. This could be micro and based on natural local resources in rural areas. We will promote woman-centric industry. We are promoting handloom and handicraft and also giving preference to electronics. We are providing up to 50 per cent subsidy; and our MSME policy and micro hydel policy have been welcomed by industry. One mega and one mini textile park are also being planned.
(With inputs from Kumar Akash and Bhaswar Kumar)
