U'khand demands withdrawal of eco-sensitive zone

The Uttarakhand cabinet passed a resolution to request the central government to withdraw its notification declaring vast stretch between Gomukh to Uttarkashi in the state as an eco-sensitive zone.

Apart from this, the cabinet gave nod to the Mera Gaon Meri Sadak Scheme and also took decisions related to the new sports policy of the state and other issues.

After the meeting was held under the leadership of Chief Minister Harish Rawat, his media in-charge Surendra Kumar said, “State cabinet has passed a resolution to request the Centre to withdraw its notification of declaring a 100-km stretch of the Bhagirathi river as eco-sensitive zone.”

He also said a delegation headed by state Forest Minister Dinesh Agarwal will soon meet the Prime Minister proposing the same.

All-party meet
“An all-party meet would also be organised to gather support for withdrawal of the notification,” Kumar added.

Protests by locals against the notification has been gaining momentum here as they fear that the area would suffer on the development front if the notification is implemented.

Kumar also said the state cabinet has approved the sports policy under which issues like development of playgrounds and setting up of money rewards for players participating in Asiad and Olympics would be addressed.

The cabinet has also passed Mera Gaon Meri Sadak Scheme under which roads will be built in villages as part of the MGNREGA programme and this will also provide employment to the villagers, he added.

The CM’s media in-charge also said the cabinet has allowed cooperative banks to act as a guarantor to the state government in receiving credits from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The cabinet has also approved a policy under which private developers will be asked to build schools, dispensaries and hospitals in the state for a fixed amount of resources which will be provided by the government, he added.
PTI