Rishikesh, November 10, 2026: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami dedicated Devbhoomi Rajat Jayanti Parks developed across nine urban local bodies to the public and inaugurated or laid foundation stones for seven development projects worth more than ₹36 crore in Dehradun district on Tuesday.
At the programme in Chandreshwar Nagar, Rishikesh, Dhami also flagged off eight waste-collection vehicles to strengthen municipal sanitation services.
The parks are located in urban bodies across Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi districts.
Jubilee Celebrations Take Shape as Public Spaces
Dhami said the parks were conceived to ensure that Uttarakhand’s silver jubilee left a lasting mark through public infrastructure rather than remaining limited to ceremonial events.
Locations previously occupied by waste heaps and overgrown vegetation are being transformed into green community spaces, he said. The parks are intended to provide places for children to play, older residents to walk, and people to practise yoga, exercise and spend time outdoors.
He added that the spaces would reflect Uttarakhand’s culture, folk traditions and local plant life. Municipal bodies were urged to involve residents in their upkeep.
Sanitation Plan Covers 107 Urban Bodies
Outlining the state’s urban sanitation initiatives, Dhami said all 108 urban local bodies are open-defecation-free, while Rishikesh and Haridwar have received Water Plus certification.
He stated that more than 90% of urban waste is being scientifically processed and that clearing legacy waste has made approximately 109 acres of land available for reuse.
The Chief Minister also highlighted biogas production from waste in Rudrapur and Mussoorie. More than 60,000 kilograms of plastic has been collected through a digital deposit-refund system along Char Dham routes, he said.
A sanitation action plan worth approximately ₹1,375 crore has been prepared for 107 urban bodies. Dhami said 27 sewage and faecal sludge treatment plants are being established under the plan, alongside greater mechanisation of cleaning work to reduce unsafe working conditions for sanitation personnel.
Drinking Water and Sewerage Projects Reviewed
Dhami said 148 of the 151 projects approved under the first phase of AMRUT have been completed, providing tap connections to more than 72,000 households.
Under AMRUT 2.0, projects worth approximately ₹650 crore are being undertaken to extend drinking-water services to another 40,000 homes and rejuvenate water sources and ponds.
He also referred to approximately ₹874 crore in drinking-water, sewerage and urban infrastructure works in selected cities, including Rishikesh.
Housing, Healthcare and Online Services
The Chief Minister said more than 62,000 homes have been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban, with over 50,000 families already provided permanent houses.
He added that 35 night shelters are operating across the state, while 114 urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have delivered neighbourhood healthcare services to more than three lakh people.
On municipal administration, Dhami said the UPYOG platform is being used to make services such as property-tax payments, mutation and trade licences available online. The aim, he said, is to reduce the need for repeated visits to government offices.
A digital sanitation monitoring system is also being developed in Haridwar ahead of Kumbh 2027.
Public Participation Essential, Says CM
Dhami congratulated Rudrapur and Kashipur municipal corporations on their selection for national awards under Swachh Survekshan 2025–26.
He credited sanitation workers, municipal teams and residents for the achievement, saying cleanliness must become part of everyday life rather than remain solely a government campaign.
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, Rishikesh MLA Premchand Aggarwal, Mayor Shambhu Paswan, State Women’s Commission Chairperson Kusum Kandwal, Urban Development Director Vinod Giri Goswami and other representatives attended the programme.
