Khatima

Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday chaired a virtual meeting with district magistrates from his residence in Khatima and issued a series of directions related to land encroachments, monsoon preparedness, public services and the ongoing Char Dham Yatra.

During the meeting, the chief minister instructed officials to intensify action against illegal encroachments on government land and ordered a detailed investigation into government properties located in Gram Sabha areas, according to an official release.

Dhami also directed authorities to probe land transactions carried out in violation of Uttarakhand’s land laws. Stressing the need for speedy legal proceedings, he said any land found to have been acquired illegally should be transferred back to the state government.

He further ordered the removal of illegal encroachments from enemy properties across the state and asked officials to regularly review details of Waqf properties uploaded on the Umeed portal, while ensuring continuous verification of the data.

The chief minister instructed authorities to verify arms licences issued to individuals from other states and identify people with criminal backgrounds. He also ordered inspections of public service centres and called for the identification of ineligible beneficiaries availing government schemes using illegally obtained ration cards.

Emphasising internal security, Dhami asked officials to maintain strict surveillance on suspicious activities and accelerate verification drives across districts.

With the monsoon season approaching, the chief minister directed all districts to complete disaster preparedness measures in advance. He instructed officials to conduct pre-monsoon review meetings and ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place before heavy rains begin.

Dhami also ordered the repair of damaged roads in remote areas and stressed the need to maintain uninterrupted drinking water supply during the summer months. He said all water-related technical issues should be addressed immediately on priority.

The chief minister further directed officials to avoid unnecessary power cuts across the state. In cases where outages become unavoidable, he said timely information should be provided to residents to minimise inconvenience.

Reviewing preparations for the Char Dham Yatra, Dhami instructed authorities to continuously monitor arrangements and collect feedback from pilgrims travelling along the routes. He said facilities should be improved based on complaints and suggestions received from devotees.

He also asked officials to ensure adequate drinking water facilities along the pilgrimage routes and prepare an effective traffic management plan to handle the influx of visitors.

The chief minister additionally directed that construction work on the Kainchi Dham bypass under the Manaskhand Yatra project be completed by next month under any circumstances.

Dhami also reviewed schemes being implemented by the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, including the Poly House, Apple Mission and Kiwi Mission projects. He stressed that these initiatives should deliver tangible benefits to farmers rather than remaining confined to paperwork.

Highlighting the need for a results-driven work culture in agriculture and horticulture, the chief minister said efforts should focus on increasing farmers’ income and strengthening the rural economy.

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He also instructed officials to speed up reconstruction work in disaster-affected regions and reviewed the progress of rehabilitation efforts underway in Joshimath. Dhami directed authorities to increase monitoring and vigilance in disaster-prone areas before the onset of the monsoon season.