High drama unfolded in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday when the Kedarnath MLA, Manoj Rawat and Purola MLA, Rajkumar tried to enter the house on Tuesday with a tent and camping gear. The members were trying to draw attention for what they termed pathetic attitude of the state government toward the plight of those involved in the business of camping and trekking. Donning the attire of the trekkers, Manoj Rawat told media persons that the Uttarakhand High Court ( HC) had issued a ban on camping and night stay in Bugyals (high altitude meadows) last year which had adversely affected locals who were involved in the business and worked as guides. He said that the state government had said that it will file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court (SC) against the HC order but it has done nothing in last one year.
Purola MLA, Rajkumar said that many Bugyals fall in his constituency and apart from affecting tourism, the HC order has put up a question mark on livelihood of more than 5000 sheep -rearers. When these members attempted to enter the house, they were prevented by the security personnel. A minor war of words occurred between the agitated MLAs and the security personnel. Later the Congress members were taken inside the assembly by the congress leader Pritam Singh.
In the house, Manoj Rawat and Rajkumar raised the issue under rule 58. In his reply, the Environment and Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat said that the delay has occurred in the challenging the HC order in SC. He said that forest department is the nodal department on the issue and it has sought petitions from Tourism and the animal husbandry departments as their stakes were also involved. The minister said that the forest department has now made necessary preparation to challenge the order in SC.