Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Sunday sought Rs.10,000 crore annual grant from the Centre for playing important role in conversing and preserving environment and to help in its efforts to save forests in the Himalayan state. He also sought extension of special industrial package to the State till 2010 and additional grant for the forthcoming Kumbh Mela at Hardwar.
“Over two-thirds of State’s land is covered with forests, while there are seven national parks. Uttarakhand’s flora and fauna is very crucial to maintain nation’s ecological balance. Strict environmental guidelines restrict industrial development of the state. To compensate this and help us in our efforts of environment conservation, the Centre should give annual financial assistance of at least Rs.10,000 crore,” Mr. Pokhriyal said here at a press conference.
Pointing out that currently all these expenses were being borne by the State Government, Mr. Pokhriyal said the State Government was not only carrying out massive afforestation drives but has also steeped up vigil to save forests and wildlife from anti-social elements by raising units of Eco Task Force.
It was not just Uttarakhand but other Himalayan states that have been making efforts to preserving the environment, and the Centre should give some additional incentives to them for their efforts, he added.
The Uttarakhand Chief Minister also demanded extension of the special industrial package given to the state by another 10 years. “This package is very important to attract investments in the state. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had provided us with an industrial package till 2013, which was later reduced till 2010 by the Congress-led UPA government in its first tenure. I have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to extend the package till 2020 like the North-Eastern states. I have also urged President Pratibha Devisingh Patil to intervene in the matter,” he added.
Mr. Pokhriyal also expressed his displeasure over “meagre” financial assistance provided by the Centre to the State for the preparation of the forthcoming Kumbh Mela at Hardwar. “Initially, the Centre had promised Rs.400 crore for Kumbh Mela and another Rs.330 crore for the Mela-related development projects. But now the assistance has been limited to Rs.400 crore only,” he pointed out and demanded entire Rs.750 crore for the Kumbh Mela.
Over 6-crore devotees from India and abroad are likely to converge at Hardwar between January 14 and April 28 next year for Kumbh Mela that happens every 12 years.
