<p>Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan, on Wednesday said, “it is time proposals to declare fragile regions like Uttarakhand as eco-sensitive zones in the wake of the calamity be taken seriously.”<br /><br /></p>.<p>“I personally feel even as minister for environment, it is an ecologically fragile zone and the eco-sensitive zone proposal needs to be implemented faithfully and stringently,” the minister told reporters here.<br /><br />“The National Ganga River Basin Authority headed by the prime minister has recommended that there should be an eco-sensitive zone of 130 kms from Gomukh where the Alaknanda river originates, to Uttarkashi.<br /><br />“The proposal was accepted and draft notification issued in 2011. Later it became a final notification, therefore that notification is in force,” she said, “now with so many thousands of pilgrims stranded (in Uttarakhand), and rescue operations going on in full swing... I think our first priority is to focus on rescue and relief operations..., and only after that in which I believe very strongly, eco-sensitive zone proposal which is vital and important be taken up as top priority,” she said. <br /><br />However, the minister took a dig at the chief minister of Uttarakhand, stating: “ He (CM) feels that the notification will come in the way of development... Lessons learnt (from the Uttarakhand calamity) is something we can discuss later... in a democracy we have to first discuss the issue, but then this is not the time to bring those issues to fore; right now we have to ensure relief and rescue operations go smoothly and make sure that people are safe."</p>
<p>Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan, on Wednesday said, “it is time proposals to declare fragile regions like Uttarakhand as eco-sensitive zones in the wake of the calamity be taken seriously.”<br /><br /></p>.<p>“I personally feel even as minister for environment, it is an ecologically fragile zone and the eco-sensitive zone proposal needs to be implemented faithfully and stringently,” the minister told reporters here.<br /><br />“The National Ganga River Basin Authority headed by the prime minister has recommended that there should be an eco-sensitive zone of 130 kms from Gomukh where the Alaknanda river originates, to Uttarkashi.<br /><br />“The proposal was accepted and draft notification issued in 2011. Later it became a final notification, therefore that notification is in force,” she said, “now with so many thousands of pilgrims stranded (in Uttarakhand), and rescue operations going on in full swing... I think our first priority is to focus on rescue and relief operations..., and only after that in which I believe very strongly, eco-sensitive zone proposal which is vital and important be taken up as top priority,” she said. <br /><br />However, the minister took a dig at the chief minister of Uttarakhand, stating: “ He (CM) feels that the notification will come in the way of development... Lessons learnt (from the Uttarakhand calamity) is something we can discuss later... in a democracy we have to first discuss the issue, but then this is not the time to bring those issues to fore; right now we have to ensure relief and rescue operations go smoothly and make sure that people are safe."</p>
