Uttarakhand receives Centre's approval for Rs 125 cr project for landslide mitigation and management

Uttarakhand has secured approval for a significant landslide mitigation and management project worth Rs 125 crore from the Government of India.

The initiative comes as part of the ongoing efforts led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to address the state’s persistent vulnerability to landslides.

Under the Chief Minister’s direction, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and the Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre (ULMMC), Dehradun, prepared and submitted detailed proposals to the Centre.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs responded swiftly in line with the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, giving their nod to the project.

An initial amount of Rs 4.5 crore has been sanctioned for exploration work and the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) as part of the first phase. Five critical landslide-prone sites have been prioritized under this project—Mansa Devi Hill Bypass Road in Haridwar, Galogi Hydroelectric Project Road in Mussoorie (Dehradun), Bahuguna Nagar land-subsidence area in Karnaprayag (Chamoli), Charton Lodge landslide area in Nainital, and Khotila-Ghatdhar in Dharchula (Pithoragarh).

Expressing appreciation for the Centre’s support, Chief Minister Dhami said the initiative represents a decisive step toward addressing the landslide risks in the state. He also extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah on behalf of the state and its citizens. “The project marks a significant step towards a long-term solution for landslide-affected areas,” he said.

The need for such interventions has grown as the state continues to face severe damage due to heavy monsoon rainfall, which frequently results in loss of lives, disruption of normalcy, and destruction of infrastructure including roads.

Additionally, the Central Government has approved Rs 615 crore as special capital assistance for Uttarakhand. Of this, Rs 380.201 crore has already been released, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Wednesday.

Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Dhami expressed his gratitude toward the Prime Minister. “Uttarakhand is getting full support from the Central Government in this direction,” the Chief Minister said, as per the CMO. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to achieving the vision of Prime Minister Modi of making the current decade a “decade of development of Uttarakhand.”

The CMO also informed that the state had sought a total of Rs 619.42 crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for 37 proposed schemes in the financial year 2025-26.