Report: Mo Faheem ‘Tanha’
Dehradun | (BIG NEWS TODAY):
The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government has taken an important decision regarding the use and ownership of leased (patta) land. Along with this, a significant decision has also been taken concerning the commercial use of groundwater. A crucial cabinet meeting was held on Wednesday at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. After the meeting, Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari briefed the media on the cabinet’s decisions at the media center.
Important Decisions Taken by the Cabinet
- District Transfer for Health Workers
The cabinet approved a decision of the Medical Health and Family Welfare Department, Uttarakhand, allowing health workers/health supervisors who have completed a minimum of five years of satisfactory service in their original cadre to avail a one-time district transfer during their entire service tenure, based on mutual understanding. - Land Procurement for Projects through Mutual Agreement
The cabinet decided on determining a process for procuring land from landowners through mutual agreement for small, medium, and large projects in Uttarakhand.
To reduce the excessive time involved in land acquisition under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and to encourage direct land purchase, the state has proposed a procedure to obtain land for projects through mutual consent. This process is expected to reduce litigation and lower the overall cost of public-interest projects. - Amendment Related to Prag Farm Land, Udham Singh Nagar
The cabinet approved an amendment to Government Order No. 670 dated March 25, 2025, concerning the transfer of 1,354.14 acres of land at Prag Farm in Udham Singh Nagar district to SIDCUL (Department of Industrial Development) for developing an industrial estate.
As per the amended provision, while the lessee will not have the right to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer the land to any individual, institution, or organization, the lessee will be permitted—through the Industrial Development Department with the consent of the Revenue Department—to sub-lease the land for the same purpose. The land must be utilized within three years from the date of allotment, failing which the allotment will be deemed automatically cancelled. - Reorganization of Tribal Welfare Department Structure
To ensure effective implementation of schemes of the Tribal Welfare Department, and considering the requirement of posts in Scheduled Tribe–dominated districts—Dehradun, Chamoli, Udham Singh Nagar, and Pithoragarh—four posts of District Tribal Welfare Officers have been created through Government Order No. 120 dated February 28, 2025. The cabinet approved the promulgation of the Uttarakhand Tribal Welfare Gazetted Officers Service (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to incorporate these sanctioned posts into the service rules. - Charges on Commercial Groundwater Extraction
The cabinet approved the implementation (with immediate effect) of water charges for the extraction of groundwater for non-agricultural purposes (excluding agriculture, agriculture-related activities, and government drinking water arrangements).
To promote industries, regulate groundwater development and management, and limit uncontrolled extraction, water charges have been approved for industrial units and other commercial uses such as residential apartments/group housing societies, hotels, water amusement parks, vehicle washing centers, swimming pools, etc., across safe, semi-critical, critical, and over-exploited zones. A registration fee of ₹5,000 will be applicable for commercial, industrial, infrastructure, and residential apartment/group housing societies. - Establishment of a Private University in Dehradun
To develop the state as an education hub and encourage private sector participation in higher education, the cabinet approved the establishment of a private university named “GRD Uttarakhand University” in Dehradun district.
The university aims to promote innovation in education, modern teaching and learning methodologies, holistic personality development, education for socially and economically disadvantaged sections, encouragement of state-specific research, and generation of employment opportunities. - Transfer of Strategic Airstrips to the Ministry of Defence
The cabinet approved the transfer of the Chinyalisaur airstrip in Uttarkashi district and the Gauchar airstrip in Chamoli district to the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, on a lease basis. Based on mutual agreement between the Indian Air Force, the Ministry of Defence, the Government of India, and the Uttarakhand government, these strategically important airstrips will be developed as Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) for joint civilian and military operations. - Approval of Uttarakhand Green Hydrogen Policy, 2026
To promote green hydrogen production in the state, the cabinet approved the promulgation of the “Uttarakhand Green Hydrogen Policy, 2026.”
In line with the Government of India’s National Green Hydrogen Policy, 2022, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission, 2023—aimed at making India a global hub for green hydrogen in the coming decade—the Uttarakhand government is committed to promoting clean and green energy sources in view of global warming and climate change.
Green hydrogen, being a clean energy and industrial fuel, will help achieve net-zero targets. Uttarakhand has abundant natural resources such as hydropower, which can be effectively utilized for green hydrogen production. This will boost development and employment in the state, support carbon-free growth, help meet climate change goals, and promote market creation and demand aggregation for green hydrogen. Accordingly, the cabinet approved the implementation of the Uttarakhand Green Hydrogen Policy, 2026, to encourage green hydrogen production in the state.
