Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday directed district administrations across the state to intensify action against illegal encroachments on government land, violations of land laws and suspicious activities, while also ensuring robust preparations ahead of the monsoon season and the ongoing Char Dham Yatra.

Chairing a virtual meeting with all District Magistrates from his residence in Khatima, the Chief Minister instructed officials to accelerate the campaign to remove encroachments from government properties, including land situated in Gram Sabhas. He emphasized that strict action must be taken in cases where land has been purchased in violation of the state’s land laws. “Fast-track hearings should be conducted and any land found to have been acquired illegally must be vested back with the state government,” he said.

The Chief Minister also ordered authorities to identify and remove illegal occupations on enemy properties and conduct regular verification of Waqf properties registered on the Umeed Portal. He stressed the need for continuous scrutiny of records to ensure transparency and prevent misuse.

Highlighting security concerns, Dhami directed officials to verify arms licences issued to people from outside the state and identify individuals with criminal backgrounds. He also called for intensified verification drives and close monitoring of suspicious activities. Instructions were issued to inspect public service centres and identify ineligible beneficiaries availing government welfare schemes through illegally obtained ration cards.

With the monsoon season approaching, the Chief Minister asked all districts to complete preparedness measures on priority. He directed district administrations to hold pre-monsoon review meetings and ensure the availability of essential resources and emergency arrangements. Repair work on damaged roads in remote and interior areas must be completed within a fixed timeline, he said.

The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of uninterrupted drinking water and electricity supply during the summer and monsoon months. He instructed officials to ensure there is no unnecessary power cut in the state and, if unavoidable, advance information should be communicated to the public to minimize inconvenience. Any technical issues affecting water supply must be resolved immediately on priority, he added.

Reviewing the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, Dhami directed officials to continuously monitor pilgrimage arrangements and gather feedback from devotees to improve facilities. He emphasized maintaining adequate drinking water arrangements along the pilgrimage routes and implementing an effective traffic management plan.

The Chief Minister also instructed authorities to complete the Kainchi Dham bypass project under the Manaskhand Yatra initiative by next month.

Focusing on agriculture and rural development, Dhami directed the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments to ensure that schemes such as the Polyhouse Scheme, Apple Mission and Kiwi Mission move beyond paperwork and benefit farmers on the ground. He stressed the need for a result-oriented work culture to strengthen the rural economy and increase farmers’ income.

The Chief Minister further reviewed reconstruction work in disaster-affected areas, including progress in Joshimath, and directed officials to intensify monitoring in disaster-prone regions before the onset of heavy rains.

Disclaimer: This news is written on the basis of information received from different authentic sources.