Ex-CM Rawat accuses govt of stopping all works in Gairsain

Dehradun, December 18 

AICC general secretary and former state Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Tuesday accused the state government of stopping all development works in Gairsain.

“Eight road construction projects for Gairsain were cleared by the previous government on which work has been stopped. A development corporation had also been created by us which has been closed by the present government,” Rawat alleged at a press conference here.

He said an amount of Rs 57 crore was sanctioned by his government for establishing a secretariat, but work on the project had also been halted. The construction of 500 residential houses that had started during his tenure had also been stopped.

“Gairsain has fallen a victim to infighting within the BJP which is condemnable,” said Rawat. 

Accusing the state government of committing a sin by making an amendment to the Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, the former CM said with the amendment to Sections 143 and 154 of the Act, anyone could buy a piece of land anywhere in Uttarakhand, which was against the concept of a Himalayan state. 

“I appeal to MLAs of all political parties to work for another amendment to the Act to stop indiscriminate selling and buying of land in the Himalayan state,” said Rawat. 

Criticising the government for not giving reservation to statehood agitators in jobs, he claimed his government had made an Act to ensure that they got quota in jobs. However, the Governor did not give his assent to it. 

Alleging that the arbitration system in Udham Singh Nagar district had been abolished after the NH-74 land compensation scam, he said, “ We want the state government to appoint arbitrators so that owners get compensation for their land on time.” 

Rawat said despite rising unemployment in the state, the government did not seem inclined to fill the vacancies. He accused the government of not being able to announce the MSP for sugarcane, causing a widespread discontent among farmers. 

He said dues worth Rs 360 crore were yet to be paid to sugarcane growers. — PTI