BC Khanduri raised stone crushers issue with CM

Garhwal MP Maj Gen Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (retd) claimed that he had raised the issue of protest by Maletha women against the stone crushers at a meeting with Chief Minister Harish Rawat. During the meeting he urged the Chief Minister to take a concrete steps to resolves crisis.The former Chief Minister said he came to know about various issues during a five-day long tour to his lok Sabha constituency and later he raised five issues with Rawant.

Khanduri further said during his tour he found that mining was being undertaken rampantly without observance of regulations which was not only damaging the environment but also causing a loss to the revenue generation of the State Government.

He further said, “Since the creation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the State has failed to make foolproof mining policy. I too got two chances to serve the State as Chief Minister but could not make mining policy. Now miners are operating without following the norms. As per norms miners are supposed to do mining in the middle of the river and leave one third river from both side but in reality they have been doing this at the embankment. By doing illegal mining they have been making huge holes and when water comes then the embankment turns into a river. It erodes precious soil and makes river shallow so that it brings destruction during rainy season.”

He said that road condition was very bad in the State. It has been noticed that now Ministry of Defence has taken charge of strategic roads leading to border areas. There was confusion that few roads were being made by the BRO but the road was being taken care by the PWD and similarly some roads made by PWD but maintained by BRO. Due to this reason there was confusion and ultimate sufferers were people of the State so he discussed this with the Chief Minister and now he would take up the matter with Ministry of Defence. Sirohbagad and lambagad roads need to be repaired permanently. Neither BRO nor PWD have expertise to build these two roads so definitely foreign company will be given tender to build the road, so he will also take up the matter with ministry of defence.

He also talked about the lokayukta Bill and Transfer act with the chief minister. During meeting CM has also said that if State would have transfer act then situation would have been different from now.Khanduri further said he was shocked to know that Sainik schook in Rudraprayag was approved around eight months ago but State could not sign memorandum of understanding with Ministry of Defence.

Talking about the MP Adarsh Gram — Devlibhani, which Khanduri has adopted as MP of Garhwal constituency, the MP said initially he had received good response from private sector like ONGC and even appealing other private sectors to make their contribution under corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Talking about one rank one pension (OROP) Khanduri said that Defence Minister had already made their comment on it and probably we would have a detailed meeting on it in next upcoming meeting of the ministry.