Uttarakhand: Gairsain Town In Chamoli District Officially Declared As Summer Capital Of The State

On June 8, Governor Baby Rani Maurya gave her assent for declaration of Bhararisen (Gairsain) in Chamoli district as the summer capital of Uttarakhand. The decision ends a two-decade-long wait of the hill region & came three months after CM Trivendra Singh Rawat announced in the Budget Session of the Assembly held in Gairsain that the town will become summer capital of the state. Gairsain, in Chamoli district, is located nearly 270 kms from existing temporary capital of Dehradun. Officials in the government recall that former CM Vijay Bahuguna (then as Congress leader) had held first cabinet meeting in Gairsain in the local block office building in 2012. It was then announced that Gairsain will host at least one session in a year. Vijay Bahuguna had also laid foundation stone of a Vidhan Sabha building in Gairsain in January 2013. Harish Rawat and the present BJP government too have held Assembly sessions in Gairsain town. With the announcement of Gairsain as the summer capital, there is a lack of clarity on the status of Dehradun.