Two drinking-water schemes worth nearly ₹37 crore now serve residents of Chamoli district after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated them at the Gauchar Mela on 14 November 2026 — combining infrastructure delivery with one of Uttarakhand's most prominent cultural gatherings.

Two water projects, two mountain towns

The larger of the two schemes, the Gauchar Urban Drinking Water Project, was built under the central government's AMRUT 2.0 mission at a sanctioned cost of ₹32.45 crore. It covers the Karnaprayag development block within the Karnaprayag assembly constituency. The second project — the Gairsain Urban Drinking Water Scheme strengthening and repair work — was executed under a Chief Minister's announcement at a cost of ₹459.32 lakh, targeting the Gairsain development block in the same constituency.

Both projects address a persistent challenge: Uttarakhand's steep terrain makes piped water supply expensive and technically demanding, and districts like Chamoli face seasonal stress even during monsoon. AMRUT 2.0, the successor to the Centre's original urban infrastructure mission launched in 2015, specifically targets sustainable water supply in smaller cities and hill towns — making Gauchar and Gairsain textbook beneficiaries.

Govind Prasad Nautiyal honour for Lalit Prasad Lakhera

The occasion carried cultural weight beyond bricks and pipes. CM Dhami conferred the 'Govind Prasad Nautiyal Smriti Samman-2026' on veteran journalist Lalit Prasad Lakhera for his outstanding contributions to journalism and literature in the region. The award, named after a distinguished Uttarakhand literary figure, recognises voices that have shaped public discourse in the hills.

Senior writer and publisher Kirti Nawani of Binsar Publication, Dehradun, received the 'Pandit Maheshanand Nautiyal Shiksha Evam Sahitya Prasar Samman-2026' — an award focused on the spread of education and literature. Dhami praised both recipients for sustaining the state's intellectual and cultural ecosystem.

Simli hospital committee and Press Club land assurance

Beyond the inaugurations, the CM responded positively to demands from elected representatives and local citizens. He directed that a committee be formed promptly to hear all stakeholders on the Simli Hospital matter — a signal that the long-pending healthcare grievance has reached the Chief Minister's desk. On a separate ask, Dhami assured local journalists that the government would support construction of a Press Club building in the region, requesting that suitable land be identified locally first.

'The goal of the state government is to make Uttarakhand the best state in the country,' Dhami stated, adding that development would proceed alongside the protection of the state's sanskritik virasat (cultural heritage), local traditions, and the sentiments of the people.

Who was in the room at Gauchar

The event drew a wide cross-section of Uttarakhand's administrative and political establishment. Chamoli in-charge Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary, Tharali MLA Bhupal Ram Tamta, Karnaprayag MLA Anil Nautiyal, district officials including District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Panwar, BJP district president Gajpal Singh Bartwal, and the president of Gauchar Nagar Palika Parishad, Sandeep Negi, were among those present alongside large numbers of traders, journalists, and local residents.

The Gauchar Mela — an annual fixture on Chamoli's calendar — gave the government a ready platform to announce, inaugurate, and engage simultaneously. The CM wished all residents success in making the fair a memorable one. That is exactly the formula: combine infrastructure delivery with cultural participation, and ensure the news travels with the festivity.