Dehradun: Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the first science city in Uttarakhand .

The central government has sanctioned Rs 134 crore for the project, which will be built in Jhajra on the outskirts of the city. Once completed, Uttarakhand will become the fifth state in the country to have a science city. Other states that have science cities are West Bengal (Kolkata), Assam (Guwahati), Gujarat (Ahmedabad) and Punjab (Kapurthala).

“Where there is a will, there is away. This is what Uttarakhand government believes in. Ever since I saw the science city in Gujarat, I made up my mind that my state will also have a similar facility. Today, my dream came true. The science city will generate jobs, help in innovations and provide better education to students,” Rawat said.

While praising the state’s contribution in science technology and education, the chief minister said the hill state was “bestowed with the honour of getting a science city because of top quality education being provided here.”

Rawat also added that the state government is planning to ensure that 60 % of the population in Uttarakhand gets potable water.

“The under-construction dam at Saundh river will solve the water issues of the state for next 50 years. The government is planning to complete the construction work in one year’s time. The dam will also produce electricity which will be utilised in the state,” the CM said.

The government is also planning to extract water from Jamrani dam for Haldwani, for which a proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, added Rawat.

