Report by Swati
Dehradun 8 August
Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter and Uttarakhand-born cricketer Rishabh Pant has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to help him purchase a suitable piece of land in his home state, where he wishes to build his first house.
Pant made the appeal on social media on Friday night, saying that despite trying for nearly three years, he had been unable to find a suitable and sufficiently large plot in Uttarakhand to relocate from Delhi.
In his post addressed to Chief Minister Dhami, Pant wrote that he had been away from Uttarakhand for a considerable period and wanted to return to his roots.
“Namaste Sir, how are you? Being a resident of Uttarakhand, it has been quite some time since I came here. I have been trying to buy land to shift from Delhi to Uttarakhand, but I have not been able to find a good and spacious place to live. I love my Uttarakhand,” Pant said.
The cricketer further requested the Chief Minister to assist him in finding suitable land, citing the difficulty of locating clean and appropriate property.
He also referred to a piece of land that, according to him, he was supposed to receive during his association with efforts to promote Uttarakhand.
Pant said that, putting these issues aside, his intention was simply to return to his birthplace, contribute to the development of the state and live among his people in the hills.
“I want to come back to my birthplace, contribute to the development of Uttarakhand and live among my people. Please look into this matter. It has been three years and I still have not been able to find land. I will be waiting for your response,” Pant wrote.
‘Rishabh, You Are the Pride of Uttarakhand’: CM Dhami
Responding to Pant, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the cricketer as the pride of Uttarakhand and appreciated his affection for his native state.
“Dear Rishabh, you are the pride of Uttarakhand. Through your outstanding performances and achievements, you have brought glory to Devbhoomi across the country and the world. Your love for your motherland and your desire to return and contribute here are highly commendable,” Dhami said.
The Chief Minister further said that the concerned officials were being directed to look into the matter and would contact Pant soon to extend all possible assistance as per the rules.
Pant Seeks Government-Rate Land
Following Dhami’s response, Pant clarified that he was willing to purchase the land from the government at the prescribed rates and wanted to build his first home in his own state.
“It would be a matter of great pride to represent my state at the international level. But if you permit me, I would like to purchase land from the government at the rates fixed by it so that I can build my first home in my own state. Please help me with this. Honestly, I did not know how to go about it,” Pant said.
Pant Among Uttarakhand’s Highest Individual Taxpayers
Pant’s appeal has also drawn attention because of his significant financial contribution through taxation. He recently emerged as one of Uttarakhand’s highest individual taxpayers, reportedly paying around ₹23.84 crore in income tax for the last financial year.
The development has sparked discussion over the irony of a prominent son of Uttarakhand, who has contributed significantly to the state’s profile and economy, struggling to find suitable land to build his home there.
Pant, who hails from Uttarakhand, has repeatedly expressed his emotional connection with the state. His latest appeal to the Chief Minister reflects his desire to return to his roots and establish a permanent home in the land of his birth.
