The State BJP has accused the State Government of messing up with the issue of Bhagirathi Eco -Sensitive Zone (ESZ) in Uttarkashi district while calling for simplification of ESZ norms to carry out developmental activities.
The fact is that the then UPA Government had issued a notification to make the Bhagirathi region ESZ in December 2012, directing the State Government to evolve a consensus. But the Congress-led State Government had kept on sitting on it for the past two years, alleged Tirath Singh Rawat, state BJP president during his Kumaon visit here on Monday.
Had the State Government been a bit serious about this sensitive matter it could have been resolved easily. The matter of concern is that the State Government remained engaged only in misinformation campaign during the period, he added. “We are of the view that there should be some flexibility in dealing with the environmental issues. We can hardly ignore development. This is what the people of this region are looking up to,” Rawat further said.
“Apart from the developmental concerns of this region, we have also to see certain other aspects related to security as Uttarakashi is part of the upper Himalayan region, maintained the State BJP president. That the State Government chose to remain idle reflects its insensitivity vis-a-vis the people’s aspirations,” added Rawat.
The failure of the State Government has not ended here, he said, alleging that out of Rs9,000 crore State Plan Budget, the State Government has been able to utilise only about 24 per cent during the past so many months. If this State Government could not have utilised the fund during the past so many months how can it utilise the rest of about 76 per cent by the end of this financial year, wondered Rawat.Though the State Government has now decided to urge the Government of India to reconsider its decision of issuing notification in regard to the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone it is to be seen whether the Government of India goes ahead or reconsider things acting on the State Government’s reconsideration plea, he said.