Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Wednesday asked the Centre to review a recent notification declaring vast stretch between Gomukh to Uttarkashi in the state as an eco-sensitive zone.
Citing ongoing protests by locals against the Centre’s recent notification declaring the area as eco-sensitive, the Chief Minister said the move will adversely affect the infrastructure projects underway in the border area which is highly sensitive to natural calamities.
Participating in the conference of Chief Ministers at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Mr. Bahuguna stressed the need to accelerate road construction projects in the state, especially areas bordering China and Nepal, an official release here.
There is need to repair and improve roads on the Char Dham Yatra route which were under BRO, the CM was quoted as saying.
Border roads in the state need to be constructed soon, keeping in mind the infrastructure development being carried out by China close to the Indian border, he said, adding, declaration of the area as eco-sensitive will stall such projects.
Supporting creation of the NCTC, Mr. Bahuguna said there was need for such an agency against terrorism.
He suggested that instead of imprisoning the person arrested by the agency, the person should first be presented before a magistrate.
Seeking aid in 90:10 ratio for police modernisation in the state, Mr. Bahuguna said every year Rs 30 crore should be given to the state for this purpose.
The CM said Revenue Police which plays an important role in the state should also be included in this modernisation scheme.
Claiming that a lot of improvement had been brought about in the state police and intelligence branch, he said a modern forensic science lab was in Dehradun, a regional forensic science lab in Rudrapur and a mobile forensic unit each in Almora and Srinagar.
He said 184 police locations in Uttarakhand would be covered under the Crime and criminal tracking and networking system project of the Union Home ministry.
This project will be implemented in Uttarakhand by May 31, 2014. It will be launched as a pilot project in Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar districts by June 30, 2013.
A cyber police station is proposed to be set up in the state. A proposal of Rs 1.32 Crore has been sent for 2013-14 to the Home Ministry for improving investigation in cyber crimes in the state.
He said 12 units of special operation taskforce are in Uttarakhand to strengthen intelligence network on the Indo-Nepal border. Ten units of special branch and 6 units of local intelligence have also been created.
The CM said a special women’s cell has been set up in at Police Headquarters Dehradun as well as in all other districts.
A 24x7 women’s helpline (1090) has also been started, he said.
