The Uttarakhand government has tried to prove by conducting scientific studies that the country is getting environmental services worth Rs 1 lakh crore annually from the forests of the state. If we add to this the contribution of rivers, mountains, waterfalls, and other natural resources, then it reaches more than three lakh crores, but Uttarakhand, which provides oxygen to the country, did not even get a green bonus in return.
There has been a demand for a Green Bonus in Uttarakhand ever since it came into existence. At the same time, such a model of development is being advocated which establishes a balance between development and environment. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is also advocating economy and ecology, but the truth is that in a hilly state like Uttarakhand, the Forest Conservation Act has become an obstacle in the path of development.
Work on 741 development schemes of the state government is not being started by 2024 because forest clearance has not been received. Of these, most of the proposals are for 614 roads. 47 cases of drinking water, five of irrigation, six transmission lines, two of hydropower projects, six of mining and 61 other cases are pending, in which 4650 hectares of forest land is to be transferred. The issue of roads is becoming hot amid the election excitement. Villagers, tired of visiting government offices, feel that boycotting the elections might draw attention to their problems.
Forest rights have been snatched away
71.05% of Uttarakhand's forest land is notified. Before 1980, the local people had their rights on this land. People used to conserve and exploit forest wealth. After the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, permission has to be taken from the forest department to cut trees on one's land.
Law becomes a hindrance to development
After the formation of the state, infrastructure development plans started expanding in Uttarakhand, but the Forest Conservation Act also started becoming an obstacle. The dream of becoming an energy state was shattered due to environmental concerns. The Chardham road project also could not be completed due to environmental reasons. Uttarakhand remains the arena of conflict between the environment and developers. Environmental activists are advocating for a model in the fragile Himalayas that does not harm the environment. On the other hand, some developers want the forest conservation law to be softened to allow progress.
environmental issue missing
Forest and environment is a big issue in the state, but there is no discussion on this issue among the candidates contesting in the Lok Sabha elections, whereas aware people believe that for the future of the state, it is necessary to make a policy of balance between environment and development. is the greatest need.
Most forest land lost in mining
Under the Forest Conservation Act 1980, after the formation of Uttarakhand state, the maximum amount of 8,661 hectares of forest land was transferred for mining, while the second largest amount was 9,294 hectares of forest land transferred for roads. 165 hectares of forest land was transferred for drinking water, 70 for irrigation, 2,811 for transmission lines, 2,250 for hydropower projects, and 20,553 hectares of forest land was transferred for other works.
Forest law is anti-people
The Forest Act and Wildlife Act of 1980 talk about the protection of wild animals, but the rights of the local people were not considered. Forest law is anti-people. Atrocities have taken place throughout Uttarakhand. Whoever made this law had British thinking. This law took away the rights of the local people.
-Kishore Upadhyay, BJP MLA
The Forest department is with the development
The Forest department is with development. Everyone's cooperation is needed in matters of forest land transfer. In most cases, delay occurs due to departments sending half-baked proposals. From time to time, instructions are issued by the department as to how the proposals should be sent, so that they are not delayed.
Delhi Blast: Al Falah University under scrutiny, ED raids 25 locations in Delhi-Faridabad
The strings of the terrorist attack in Delhi have now reached Faridabad, Haryana. The Enforcement
BJP candidate Mukesh Sharma from Gurgaon assembly constituency has registered a big win. After th
India's great batsman and former Team India coach Rahul Dravid's car collided with an auto-ricksh
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has decided that it will run a campaign to free all Hindu temples fro
Ind vs Ban: Indian fast bowlers compared this Pakistani cricketer, Wasim-Sakhtar, and Waqar's trio
The first match of the two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh played a cow at the Che
The central government on Friday opposed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking a reduction i
After the declaration of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the situation in both countries
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take out a road show on the streets of Kashi today amid the sou
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) voters will play an important role in dec
In the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian team defeated South Africa by 7 runs. Wi
