Has PM Modi Increased Funds for Uttarakhand by 4.5 Times Compared to UPA?

Rudrapur (Uttarakhand), July 19 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Saturday that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated 4.5 times more financial resources to Uttarakhand in the last decade compared to the funds provided by the UPA government during its tenure from 2004 to 2014.

While addressing the ‘Uttarakhand Nivesh Utsav’ event in Rudrapur, located in the Udham Singh Nagar district, Home Minister Shah announced that PM Modi’s government has disbursed Rs 1.86 lakh crore to Uttarakhand over the last ten years through tax devolution and grants.

“This amount is 3.5 times greater than the Rs 53,000 crore allocated by the Congress-led UPA during the same period,” he remarked.

Besides the Rs 1.86 lakh crore, the Modi administration has also provided Uttarakhand with Rs 31,000 crore for road development, Rs 40,000 crore for railway projects, and Rs 100 crore for airport enhancements, bringing the total financial aid to 4.5 times what the UPA contributed in a decade.

Targeting the Opposition Congress in Uttarakhand, HM Shah declared, “Prior to my visit, they shared a message on social media urging me to inform the public about the state's gains thus far. I am revealing these financial figures to address their concerns.”

He urged Congress leaders in the state to rise above trivial politics, stating, “When it comes to the state's development, they should support the efforts instead of creating obstacles.”

“If they ignore my counsel, the day is not far when even the minor presence of Congress in Uttarakhand will vanish,” he warned.

Criticizing Congress for opposing the initial demands for Uttarakhand's formation, he noted that it was PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who transformed the vision of a separate hill state into reality.

HM Shah emphasized, “Atalji established Uttarakhand, and PM Modi has fostered its growth, enabling double-engine governance to benefit the citizens.”

Highlighting PM Modi’s vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Home Minister mentioned that the advancement of smaller and eastern states is crucial for achieving this goal.

HM Shah also pointed out PM Modi’s commitment to constructing an all-weather road for Char Dham to boost tourism, despite opposition from various activists.

“To ensure the all-weather road project proceeds without legal hindrances, PM Modi engaged a team of top lawyers,” he said, while discussing proposed ropeways at Hemkunt Sahib, Sonprayag, and additional tourist hotspots, with investments amounting to thousands of crores.

The Home Minister described PM Modi’s initiatives that have lifted 25 crore people out of poverty and established India as the fourth-largest economy globally.

Commending the Uttarakhand government for its dedication to industrial progress, HM Shah noted, “Over 81,000 jobs have been created, with ancillary industries projected to generate an additional 2.5 lakh jobs.”

He praised CM Dhami for promoting Dev Bhoomi with transparency, effective policy implementation, increased investment in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and achieving a balance between the economy and the environment.

According to him, the four-pronged development strategy for Uttarakhand will center on Yoga, Ayurveda, natural healing, and organic farming.

The Rudrapur event was designed to showcase the state's advancements in industrial investment, which are becoming more visible.

Following the Global Investors Summit held in Dehradun in December 2023, investment agreements exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore have already been activated. The ‘Nivesh Utsav’ was organized to celebrate these accomplishments and identify future investment prospects.

CM Dhami stated that under PM Modi's guidance, the state has successfully attracted investment and is in the process of actualizing investments totaling over Rs 1 lakh crore.

“Uttarakhand has improved its ease of doing business, aiming to position itself as an investment-friendly state,” he affirmed, pledging government support to investors.

Dhami pointed out that the state administration has initiated a single-window system for industrial setup permissions and launched 30 new policies, including those focused on logistics, MSMEs, and investment.

He mentioned that based on investor feedback, the government has streamlined numerous regulations, resulting in significant investment agreements being finalized.

CM Dhami also announced the establishment of an incubation center for startups, with Rs 200 crore allocated as venture capital for these initiatives.

At the event, held at the Sports Stadium in Rudrapur, HM Shah also remotely inaugurated various schemes and laid the groundwork for public welfare projects valued at Rs 1,342 crore.

The event saw participation from dignitaries and representatives of various new industries established across the state.

During the December 2023 summit, a total of 1,779 MoUs were signed, with an estimated investment exceeding Rs 3.5 lakh crore. Of these, projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore have already commenced.