Dehra Dun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Wednesday demanded Rs 1,000 crore 'green bonus' every year from the Centre for conservation of forests in the hill state.
"According to studies, conducted by various agencies, forests in Uttarakhand provide ecological services worth Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000 crore to the country every year. So the demand of Rs 1,000 crore green bonus per annum is nominal in lieu of the services being provided by the state," he said.
The state needs the fund for conservation of forests and environment, Nishank told reporters here.
"According to studies, conducted by various agencies, forests in Uttarakhand provide ecological services worth Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000 crore to the country every year. So the demand of Rs 1,000 crore green bonus per annum is nominal in lieu of the services being provided by the state," he said.
The state needs the fund for conservation of forests and environment, Nishank told reporters here.
| |
|---|
The Chief Minister claimed he had raised the issue last year with Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to which the Congress leader agreed in principle.
However, till now no progress has been made in this connection, he alleged.
Nishank also criticised the Centre for not allotting funds to the state in the ratio of 90:10, which "it should get for being a special category state".
"The central funds under most of the schemes are being given in the ratio of 67:33 for the last few years," he said.
He also sought change in forest norms for the hill state, saying the current guidelines are affecting developmental works. Under the current norms, if forest land is taken for construction of road or any other project, the state has to give double the size of the plot to forest department.
"Uttarakhand has only 35 per cent land for non-forestry activities. These norms not only delays various developmental schemes but also escalates the cost of the projects manifold," the chief minister said.
He also reiterated his demand of revival of Concessional Industrial Package (CIP), which expired last year.
The package should be given till 2023 as after its expiry the pace of industrial growth in the state has been slowed down, Nishank said, adding that the average growth rate within the concessional period from 2003-04 to 09-10 was 18 per cent per annum which came down to 9.1 per cent during the post concession period.
On denial of more funds by the Centre for dealing with the situation created due to natural disasters last year, the CM said he has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding more assistance as Rs 500 crore Central aid was not enough in view of the huge devastation caused by the natural calamities.
He also sought a separate Central fund for management of large number of pilgrims visiting various religious places in the state.
Nishank also demanded a separate Himalayan policy as well as a ministry for dealing with the issues of hill states.
PTI
However, till now no progress has been made in this connection, he alleged.
Nishank also criticised the Centre for not allotting funds to the state in the ratio of 90:10, which "it should get for being a special category state".
"The central funds under most of the schemes are being given in the ratio of 67:33 for the last few years," he said.
He also sought change in forest norms for the hill state, saying the current guidelines are affecting developmental works. Under the current norms, if forest land is taken for construction of road or any other project, the state has to give double the size of the plot to forest department.
"Uttarakhand has only 35 per cent land for non-forestry activities. These norms not only delays various developmental schemes but also escalates the cost of the projects manifold," the chief minister said.
He also reiterated his demand of revival of Concessional Industrial Package (CIP), which expired last year.
The package should be given till 2023 as after its expiry the pace of industrial growth in the state has been slowed down, Nishank said, adding that the average growth rate within the concessional period from 2003-04 to 09-10 was 18 per cent per annum which came down to 9.1 per cent during the post concession period.
On denial of more funds by the Centre for dealing with the situation created due to natural disasters last year, the CM said he has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding more assistance as Rs 500 crore Central aid was not enough in view of the huge devastation caused by the natural calamities.
He also sought a separate Central fund for management of large number of pilgrims visiting various religious places in the state.
Nishank also demanded a separate Himalayan policy as well as a ministry for dealing with the issues of hill states.
PTI
No comments:
Post a Comment