Uttarakhand

• 20 Feb 2024

Transit Hostels for Home Guards in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

The Home Guard department in Uttarakhand is set to provide residential facilities for its Home Guards especially in Udham Singh Nagar and other key districts.

Key Points

• Preparations to construct hotels in 8 districts are underway with a budget approval of Rs 13.50 crore received from the government.
• The identified districts span both the Garhwal and Kumaon division. With Haridwar securing the most extensive plot—approximately 50 bighas of land.
• The departmental sources revealed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared for the construction of hostels in different cities of eight districts, including Udham Singh Nagar district headquarters, Rudrapur, Nainital, and Haridwar.
  • As part of the next phase, DPRs for the remaining five districts will be prepared and submitted to the government, ensuring the extension of this initiative across the state.

Home Guard

• On 6^th December, 1946, the first Home Guards Unit was conceived and raised in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency .
• During the turmoil period of civil disorders and communal riots, as a civilian voluntary force in aid of administration as an auxiliary to police, under the stewardship of Morarji Desai, former Prime Minister.
• It was reorganised in India in 1966 after the Sino-Indian War.

Upgradation of 108 Roads in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

Recently, the Centre has approved the upgradation of 108 roads in Uttarakhand under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Key Points

• 108 roads covering a total length of 1,197.207 km in Uttarakhand will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 967.73 crore under PMGSY -III.
• Out of the total Rs 967.73 crore, the Centre will give Rs 803.85 crore and the remaining Rs 163.88 crore will be borne by the state government.
• The approval is being given in acknowledgement of the fact that the hilly areas are hit by natural disasters every year and people in the hills have to face various hardships.

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

• It was launched on 25th December, 2000 with an objective to provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
• PMGSY - Phase III
  • Phase III was approved by the Cabinet during July 2019.
  • It gives priorities to facilities like:
    • Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs)
      • GrAMs are retail agricultural markets in close proximity to the farm gate that promote and service a more efficient transaction of the farmers’ produce.
    • Higher Secondary Schools and
    • Hospitals.
    • Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States. The duration of the scheme is 2019-20 to 2024-25.