Uttarakhand CM Dhami assures steps to counter migration, boost economy

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Dehradun, Oct 27 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Monday that migration is a major problem and significant plans are underway to curb it, strengthen the local economy and promote tourism, an official said.

Speaking at an event in Tehri Garhwal district, the Chief Minister said that through the House of Himalaya brand, local products are gaining widespread recognition both domestically and internationally.

Policies such as the Farm Machinery Bank, Film Policy, Apple Mission, and Homestays are all working to strengthen the local economy, he said.

Dhami was speaking at the inauguration of a nine-day 49th Shri Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Tehri Garhwal district and hoisting of flag, an official said.

At the inauguration event, CM Dhami made several announcements and gave approval for the beautification of canals, buildings, roads, and temples.

Earlier in the day, he met Narendra Jeet Singh Bindra, Chairman of the Gurudwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust, in Dehradun to discuss improvements related to infrastructure and logistics for the upcoming Yatra.

Bindra informed the Chief Minister that this year’s Hemkunt Sahib Yatra was attended by a record 275,000 pilgrims from India and around the world.

During the Kunjapuri Fair event, Dhami also inaugurated the development exhibition, inspected stalls set up by various departments, and garlanded the statues of immortal martyrs and the Freedom Struggle Martyrs’ Memorial.

The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work of preserving India’s glorious cultural heritage is being done effectively.

Under PM Modi’s guidance, the state government is committed to the overall development of Uttarakhand and is continuously working to preserve religious sites and preserve its identity, said Dhami.

The Chief Minister stated that Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code.

Furthermore, by implementing a strong anti-plagiarism law, more than 26,000 youth have been provided with transparent employment in the last four years.

He mentioned initiatives such as the prevention of religious conversions and the demolition of illegal encroachments, which have given the state a new status and recognition. The state government is committed to making Uttarakhand a leading state, he said.

–IANS

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Himachal takes bio-engineering initiative to check landslides

Shimla, Feb 13 (IANS) To address the increasing frequency of landslides in Himachal Pradesh, the government is introducing a bio-engineering initiative, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said here on Thursday.

Under a pilot project, Vetiver grass, known for its deep and dense root system that stabilises soil and prevents erosion, will be planted.

“Vetiver grass is widely used worldwide for soil conservation, particularly in landslide-prone areas, highway embankments and riverbanks,” an official statement quoting the Chief Minister said.

Recognising its potential, the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), in collaboration with the Vetiver Foundation-Climate Resilience and Sustainability Initiatives (CRSI) based in Tamil Nadu, has undertaken this project to develop sustainable mitigation strategies against landslides.

As part of the initiative, HPSDMA has requested CRSI to provide vetiver nurseries to ensure adequate availability of plants before the 2025 monsoon season.

The CRSI has supplied 1,000 vetiver grass saplings free of cost and these saplings have been planted in a nursery established at Berti in Solan district in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.

The Chief Minister said HPSDMA is monitoring the pilot project to ensure the successful cultivation and supply of vetiver grass.

Encouragingly, the initial results indicate a high survival rate of the plants, with visible signs of growth and adaptation to local conditions.

Vetiver grass, which can grow roots up to three-four metres, forms a strong network that binds the soil, reducing the risk of landslides.

Acting as a natural barrier, it slows water runoff and prevents soil erosion, particularly on steep slopes.

When planted in rows, vetiver grass functions like a living wall, increasing shear strength and preventing slope failures.

Additionally, its roots absorb excess water, reducing soil saturation, a key factor in landslide occurrences. Unlike conventional engineered solutions, vetiver offers a low-cost, sustainable and low-maintenance method for slope protection.

–IANS

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Dharmasthala case: SIT likely to submit report by Oct 31

Bengaluru, Oct 27 (IANS) Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated on Monday that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is likely to submit its report in the sensational Dharmasthala case by October 31.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, HM Parameshwara said, “The SIT has informed that it will submit the report by the end of October. They are expected to submit it by October 31. If not on that date, I assume it will be submitted within a day or two. We have asked them to submit a comprehensive and final report.”

“The SIT has stated that the report will be submitted after receiving the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and chemical analysis reports. They were waiting for the results of the analysis of the excavated bones as well,” Parameshwara added.

Meanwhile, the SIT has issued notices to activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, Girish Mattennavar, and T. Jayanth, directing them to appear before the Investigating Officer on Monday. All three have been at the forefront of protests against the Dharmasthala temple authorities and have targeted Dharmadhikari and BJP Rajya Sabha Member Veerendra Heggade and his family members.

The SIT has also issued a notice to Sujata Bhat, who had earlier claimed that her daughter, an MBBS student, went missing under suspicious circumstances in Dharmasthala and alleged foul play. Later, she retracted her statement, admitting that her allegations were false and expressing her intent to apologise.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sensational Dharmasthala case is preparing to file a chargesheet before the court by the end of October, after completing the investigation, recording statements, collecting evidence, and gathering related documents.

The investigation into the alleged mass murder case has reached its final stage, as the agency has reportedly found no concrete evidence linking the temple authorities to the serious allegations of mass killings of women, girls, and elderly persons over the past decade.

The jailed complainant, Chinnaiah, had earlier produced a skull before the authorities and court to support his claims.

Following an extensive excavation operation in Dharmasthala, the SIT arrested Chinnaiah on charges of misleading the police and the court. The SIT is also likely to initiate action against activists and YouTubers who were at the forefront of the campaign against the temple authorities.

On July 11, Chinnaiah, who had claimed that he was forced to bury several bodies of women who were raped and murdered in Dharmasthala village appeared before a court in Karnataka’s Mangaluru district, and recorded his statement. He submitted his statement under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) before Principal Civil Judge and First Class Judicial Magistrate Sandesh K.

He was accompanied by a group of lawyers and police personnel and entered the court with his face covered. The development had sparked a major controversy. He requested that the police exhume the bodies in his presence. The complainant also sought protection for himself and his family.

He further alleged that the bodies of the women showed clear signs of sexual assault. They were found without clothes or undergarments and bore injuries suggesting violent acts. The revelations have shocked the state.

A retired Supreme Court judge and activists demanded a SIT probe monitored by the Supreme Court or the High Court into the shocking murders involving many women and others.

–IANS

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IREDA records 27 per cent jump in loan sanctions to Rs 47,453 crore for FY 2024-25

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) on Monday reported 27 per cent jump in loan sanctions to Rs 47,453 crore for the financial year ending on March 31, 2025 compared with the corresponding figure of Rs 37,354 crore in the previous year.

Loan disbursements rose by 20 per cent to Rs 30,168 crore in 2024-25 from Rs 25,089 crore in FY 2023-24. The outstanding loan book also expanded by 28 per cent, reaching Rs 76,250 crore as of March 31, 2025, up from Rs 59,698 crore in the previous year, according to an IREDA statement.

IREDA Managing Director Pradip Kumar Das said: “Announcing IREDA’s annual performance on the last day of the financial year underscores our strong commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency with our investors. IREDA’s consistent growth in loan sanctions, disbursements, and loan book reflects our strong dedication to financing renewable energy projects. We remain committed to supporting India’s clean energy transition through innovative and accessible financing solutions.”

IREDA signed an agreement for a 26 billion Japanese Yen loan from the SBI’s Tokyo branch last week, which includes a green shoe option of 10 billion Japanese Yen.

This five-year unsecured facility, with bullet payment at maturity, is set to strengthen IREDA’s global market presence, according to a stock exchange filing by the company.

The landed cost, after hedging, is expected to be below 7 per cent for the External Commercial Borrowing, making it more cost-effective than similar-tenure loans in the domestic market, according to the IREDA statement.

IREDA had announced a 26.8 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 425.37 crore for the October-December quarter of the current financial year from Rs 335.54 crore in the same quarter of the previous year.

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–IANS

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