Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said he has high expectations from the Union Budget to be presented on February 1, adding that the state usually receives more than what it anticipates.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present a record ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1 (Sunday).
The Chief Minister said, “Our Prime Minister launched the PRAGATI portal in 2014 under the Digital India campaign, through which all projects across the country are reviewed. 42 projects, worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore from our state, are also being reviewed through this portal. We have already received so much... We have high expectations from this budget, and we usually receive more than we expect. This time too, we expect to receive more than expected.”
Dhami also said the state needs special arrangements for a floating population that is much larger than its permanent residents, due to large religious events that draw tourists and pilgrims every year.
“We have repeatedly urged the Government of India to recognise that our state requires arrangements for a floating population that is 8 to 10 times larger than the state's actual population... Char Dham Yatra and Kanwar Yatra take place every year. Kumbh Mela is also proposed... Visits to Adi Kailash and the Char Dham have increased significantly each year... Monthly festivals in Haridwar and Rishikesh, along with our winter pilgrimage, attract large crowds, increasing tourist traffic... Our needs should be taken into account,” he said.
On his meeting with Congress leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Dhami said he often meets senior leaders to benefit from their experience and suggestions for the development of the state.
"These are our senior citizens who have served the state, each with their own experiences and specialities. They have contributed significantly to the state, which is why I met them periodically. I engage in conversations with them and consider all their suggestions. Their extensive experience is valuable to the work ahead, and we benefit greatly from it," Dhami said.
"I've been farming since childhood, planting rice during that time... He (Harish Rawat) also wrote about it. I mentioned that once the rice is ripe and ready for harvest, I will definitely feed him rice. The rice ripened well, and the harvest was quite plentiful. As a result, I gave him some of the rice," he added.
A day earlier, Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Harish Rawat at his residence in Defence Colony, Dehradun. As a gesture of warmth and goodwill, he presented rice grown in his own field to the former Chief Minister.
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