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M. Ramachandran, Uttaranchal Chief Secretary, spoke about the State's efficient administrative machinery and its contributions to realising the political leadership's vision of development. Excerpts from the interview:
Uttaranchal is a relatively new State, yet it has attracted a large number of investors. What is the reason?
Investment in Uttaranchal's industries sector is a very good example of how well-formulated policy coupled with the concession package made available by the Central government can make all the difference. Along with that, the way we welcomed investors and facilitated investment too played a major role. We are also focussing on where exactly investment needs to be made in the various areas of infrastructure.
Uttaranchal has a topography with both hill and plain areas. What are the priority sectors, and what safeguards are taken to maintain the ecological balance even as industrialisation takes place?
Our vision for infrastructure development calls for focussed action to ensure 100 per cent connectivity to all villages and 100 per cent village and household electrification and supply of safe drinking water as per the national norm. Industrial development and emerging areas such as Information Technology and biotechnology are being promoted both to enhance the level of economic activity and to increase employment opportunities. We are clearly focussing on improving urban facilities while providing good market and prices for rural produce. Connectivity is important for us, both road and rail. The national highways connecting Uttaranchal are being widened and improved, airports are being expanded and airstrips are being operationalised. While doing all this, we take care to address environmental issues and maintain the ecological balance. We are a State with 65 per cent of its land area covered by forests; so we have to be very careful. While the forest cover cannot get reduced, environmental issues have to be addressed carefully. We are promoting only those industries that are environment - friendly. All units have to set up effluent treatment plants. If forest land has to be used for any other purpose, there is a tough screening process and there are different levels of clearance.
What plans does the State have to improve its infrastructure to international standards?
We are constantly in touch with the Government of India to upgrade the main highways linking Delhi with Dehra Dun and Delhi with Nainital. Already six-laning of the Delhi-Meerut stretch of the Delhi-Dehra Dun highway has been approved and work on four-laning of the remaining stretch is being taken up.
The Government of India has responded positively to our request to undertake a feasibility study to have a six-lane expressway connecting Delhi to Dehra Dun. Similarly, the highway from Delhi to Nainital is to be improved. A feasibility study is on to have a Himalayan highway cutting across the State linking Tuini on the Himachal Pradesh border with Lohaghat on the other end. Plans are afoot to have helipads at all district headquarters and all important tourist places.
With more hydropower projects being taken up, better connectivity is being planned. We should be able to get ADB [Asian Development Bank] assistance this year to improve our roads.
Is the State tapping its full potential in the power sector?
When we started as a State, the generation capacity was around 1,100 M.W. We have a hydropower potential of 20,000 MW. We have been able to take generation to a level of about 14,000 MW. About 1,900 MW of additional hydropower capacity will be functional this year. Projects are being developed by Central utilities such as the NTPC [National Thermal Power Corporation], the NHPC [National Hydroelectric Power Corporation] and SJVNL [Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited], by the private sector, and by our own generating corporation.
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