Dehradun: Eight proposals related to development works of various departments were discussed during the Expenditure Finance Committee meeting held at the secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan. Out of these, five proposals were approved, while three were kept for necessary review and testing. The approved proposals include the Pandit Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Reservoir Project in Sahaspur, the Khairna Barrage Drinking Water Project in Nainital, the construction of a Circuit House in Bageshwar, the upgradation of the Kainchi Dham bypass road, and the sanitation system for Kumbh Mela-2027.
Projects in Sahaspur and Nainital Approved
The ₹326.64 crore Pandit Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Reservoir Project in Sahaspur, linked to the Chief Minister’s announcement, was given approval in the meeting. Additionally, the ₹382.40 crore Khairna Barrage Drinking Water Project in Nainital district was also cleared.
Meanwhile, directives were issued to review proposals related to the Syunsi Lake construction project in the Birokhal development block of Chaubattakhal assembly constituency and the first phase of the Rudraprayag city master plan. Regarding the Rudraprayag master plan, the Chief Secretary stated that while planning drainage, it must be ensured that wastewater from homes does not flow directly into the river, mandating effective drainage and wastewater management arrangements.
Circuit House to Be Built in Bageshwar for ₹13.15 Crore
Under the Chief Minister’s announcement related to the State Estates Department and Public Works Department, the construction of a Circuit House in Bageshwar at a cost of ₹13.15 crore was approved.
Furthermore, a proposal worth ₹21.81 crore for the carpeting and upgradation of the Kainchi Dham bypass motor road from Dunighat to Ratighat (Padli) in the Betalghat development block of Nainital district was sanctioned. The objective of this work is to strengthen road infrastructure and facilitate smooth traffic movement.
₹25 Crore to Be Spent on Kumbh Mela-2027 Sanitation
A proposal of ₹25 crore for an integrated sanitation system during Kumbh Mela-2027 in Haridwar was also approved. Under this, arrangements will be made to provide necessary human resources for sanitation work.
The Chief Secretary instructed the Kumbh Mela Officer and concerned officials to establish an effective verification system for agencies providing services through external sources and employees deployed in sanitation work. Modern technologies, including biometric verification, should be utilized for this to track the actual presence and deployment of agencies and staff.
He stated that the verification system should be regularly monitored, and payments should be made to concerned agencies and employees only after necessary checks. This will help ensure transparency and accountability in sanitation management during the Kumbh.
Additional Cost of Kedarnath Project to Be Investigated
Proposals related to infrastructure, substation panels, and other construction works at Kedarnath Dham—pertaining to the Tourism Department and Public Works Department—were placed for necessary review. The Chief Secretary instructed concerned officials to conduct a detailed verification of the project’s additional cost.
He said that a revised proposal should be submitted after investigating the reasons for cost escalation, the actual necessity of the works, and other related aspects so that decisions can be taken in accordance with rules.
Emphasis on Financial Discipline and Time-Boundness
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan instructed officials to conduct detailed studies of technical, geological, financial, and administrative aspects during the preparation of projects. All necessary clearances should be obtained on time to avoid unnecessary delays in approval and execution.
He asked officials to keep financial management and future requirements in mind while determining estimated project costs, and instructed them to avoid resubmitting proposals for cost increases except under unavoidable circumstances. If increasing costs is necessary, clear reasons and mandatory clearances must be cited.
The Chief Secretary also emphasized getting physical verification of projects conducted by competent authorities and authorized agencies. He directed all departments to prioritize financial discipline, technical quality, transparency, and time-bound execution, and to ensure that approved projects benefit the public within stipulated timelines.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, PWD Secretary Pankaj Pandey, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, Planning Department’s Sridhar Babu Adanki, and other senior officials of concerned departments.
