Uttarakhand

• 07 Jan 2025

PM Invited to Attend National Games in Uttarakhand

Why in News? 

Recently, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister invited the Prime Minister to attend the National Games, which will be held in the state from 28^th January to 14^th February 2025. This is the first time Uttarakhand is hosting the event. 

 Key Points 

• Gifts Presented to the PM: 
  • The Chief Minister presented a shawl made by Malari artisans from Chamoli district and a replica of Narayan Ashram to the Prime Minister during their meeting. 
• About the Projects: 
  • Development Updates: 
    • He informed the Prime Minister about ongoing development projects in Uttarakhand. 
    • He highlighted the fast-paced progress on the first phase of the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line project. 
    • He also mentioned the completion of the survey for the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail project. 
    • He updated the Prime Minister on the Jal Jeevan Mission's progress in Uttarakhand. 
      • He also proposed closing the old Rishikesh railway station and operating all trains from the new Yoga Nagari railway station. 
      • It was suggested that the land of the old station be repurposed for a new road system to improve traffic flow. 
  • Rishikesh as an Iconic City: 
    • The Chief Minister expressed gratitude for selecting Rishikesh as an iconic city for river rafting. 
    • He requested Centre’s support for the Haridwar-Rishikesh Ganga Corridor and Sharda Corridor project due to limited state resources. 
  • Geothermal Energy Project: 
    • He shared that an MoU is proposed with the Iceland Embassy for exploiting geothermal energy in Uttarakhand. 
    • He confirmed receiving the necessary no-objection letters from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Ministry of External Affairs. 
    • He also requested technical and financial support for the project to help Uttarakhand contribute to the zero carbon emission goal by 2070. 
  • Road Transport Proposals: 
    • The Chief Minister sought clearance for various road transport proposals sent to the Ministry of Road Transport. These include: 
      • Rishikesh Bypass 
      • Haridwar Bypass (Package 2) 
      • Dehradun-Mussoorie Connectivity 
      • Dehradun Ring Road 
      • Champawat Bypass 
      • Lalkuan, Haldwani, and Kathgodam Bypass 
      • Manaskhand Project 

 National Games 

• Background:  
  • The Olympic movement, which garnered the attention of the nation in the 1920s, includes the National Games. The National Games in India were first envisioned as the Indian Olympic Games with the goal of promoting Olympic sports in the nation. 
    • The first edition of the Indian Olympic Games at Lahore in an undivided Punjab in 1924. 
    • The Indian Olympic Games were named as National Games beginning in 1940. This competition sets athletes from several Indian states with one another in a variety of sporting disciplines. 
• Objectives: 
  • They are held for the benefit of Indian athletes, sports organisations etc. 
  • They help in raising awareness among states/UT's about the necessity of developing internationally grade sports infrastructure. 
  • It attempts to attract a wide number of youths to participate in sports activities. 
  • It aims to inculcate sports culture in individuals from all walks of life and educate them on the value of sports in building a healthy society. 
• Jurisdiction:  
  • The duration and the regulations of the National Games are entirely within the jurisdiction of the Indian Olympic Association.