Dehradun, March 26 -- The Uttarakhand State Executive Committee, chaired by chief secretary Anand Bardhan, on Wednesday approved proposals worth over Rs.90 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and State Disaster Mitigation Fund to bolster flood control and landslide protection across vulnerable districts. At the Secretariat meeting, the committee cleared multiple district-submitted proposals targeting erosion-prone, landslide-vulnerable, and flood-hit areas. The chief secretary directed that all proposals route through district magistrates on recommendations from district-level committees. He also instructed the irrigation department to expedite standard operating procedures (SOPs) for river dredging and mining activities. Emphasising long-term planning, Bardhan said rivers requiring annual intervention due to erosion must be identified and comprehensive channelisation plans prepared. He also ordered a detailed study of the Baigul river in Sitarganj. Key approvals included landslide protection for Charton Lodge in Nainital district (Rs.699.98 lakh); drainage and landslide mitigation in Dharchula, Pithoragarh (Rs.3,840.78 lakh); and drainage/landslide works for Mansa Devi Hill Bypass Road in Haridwar district (Rs.4,124.83 lakh). It granted ex-post facto approval for Rs.34 crore in additional SDRF allocations across various heads. Officials said the approvals aim to minimise disaster risks in vulnerable regions ahead of the monsoon season....