While the State Government claims to be working on conservation of environment, planned development and boosting tourism in Uttarakhand, the number of slum settlements across the State present a picture that contradicts official claims with more than 500 slums being listed across the State. While Mussoorie is touted as the ‘Queen of Hills’ there are more than a dozen slums in this hill town and Nainital which is often touted as the Lake District of India has more than 50 slums. According to data from the State Slum Settlement Development Committee, as per the figures presently available, there are at least 582 slum settlements across the State. Dehradun district has the highest number of slums-162- which include 118 in Dehradun, 17 in Mussoorie,16 in Rishikesh, six in Herbertpur and five in Vikasnagar. Haridwar district has 122 slums which include 45 in Haridwar, 23 in Roorkee, 22 in Manglaur, 14 in Jhabreda and nine each in Landhaura and Laksar. There are 121 slums in Udham Singh Nagar district while Nainital has 55 slums. The slums in Nainital district include 14 in Nainital, 11 in Haldwani, eight in Ramnagar, seven each in Kaladhungi and Bheemtal, five in Bhowali and three in Lalkuan. Additionally there are 21 slums each in Chamoli , Pauri and Pithoragarh districts, 20 in Uttarkashi, 13 in Tehri, 10 in Champawat, nine in Almora and seven in Bageshwar. According to committee chairman Rajkumar, about a year ago chief minister Harish Rawat had directed that the police should ensure that no new slums created in the State. He had said that the police station concerned would be held responsible in case of new slums being created. However, observers point out that this has not prevented the number of slums from rising to higher than the listed number. Some politicians have not only played a role in creating slums but also continue to prevent measures like demolition or relocation, insisting that the slum dwellers be given ownership rights for the lands they have encroached.