BJP govt urged to address ecological concerns

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 29

Social as well as environment activists want the newly-elected BJP government in the state to work towards addressing environment concerns and welfare of the people.

Vimal Bhai from the Matu Jansangathan, who has spent decades working for the people affected due to construction of dams in the hill region, has called upon the new government to focus on taking concrete steps towards conservation of rivers to secure the future of people living on their banks. “We expect the new government to work for the conservation of environment and long-term benefit of people”, Vimal Bhai added.

Referring to the Forest Rights Act, anti-dam activist Puran Singh Rana says Uttrakhand has been home to big environment conservation movements like Chipko led by the late Gaura Devi. He said environmentalist of the Sundar Lal Bahuguna stature also belonged to this state. “Thus it is important that steps for forest conservation are taken and people are given forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006,” he said.

Besides, the state has a long history of anti-liquor agitations. Social activist Meena Aagri says, “The state government should ban liquor in the face of resurgence of women struggle against liquor in the region. People want liquor ban. Even the Bihar government has banned it.”

Harish Raturi, another activist, says the BJP government has come to power with the promise of eradicating corruption and therefore it must strive towards reducing corruption in the state. The activists say the state government should focus on the rehabilitation of people displaced by dams.