Minister of State Dhan Singh Rawat said that he will hold a meeting with officials concerned of the Tourism and Forest Departments along with affected stakeholders to work out a balanced way for overcoming the negative impact of the High Court order banning camping in bugyals (high altitude alpine meadows) on the locals earning from trekking and similar tourism activities. The Minister said this in response to a group from Chamoli who complained to him about the impacts of the high court order during the Janata Darbar at the Bharatiya Janata Party State office here on Friday.
A considerable number of applicants had come to the public hearing presided over by Rawat in the BJP State office here on Friday. Among them, a group from Deval block of Chamoli district told the Minister that thousands of locals had been rendered unemployed after the recent high court order banning camping and overnight stays on the bugyals in the high altitude mountainous regions of the state popular for trekking and adventure tourism. They said that thousands of locals had been deprived of their sole source of livelihood following the high court orders.
Stressing that the protection of environment and bugyals is vital, they said that while they respect the high court orders, the State Government should file a review petition in the court. The Minister said that he would call a meeting with the secretaries of the tourism and forest departments along with the stakeholders to look for a balanced way forward on the issue.
He stressed on the need to focus on both environmental conservation and employment for the locals.
Talking to the media, Rawat said that the Janata Darbar programme was being held after a gap due to public representatives, officials and others being involved in tackling the scenario resulting from disasters during the rains. He averred that in the one and a half year since the current state government had assumed office, the Janata Darbar initiative had started showing results.
Applicants were appreciative of the direct interaction with the Government and the resulting action on their issues. On Friday about 225 persons had registered to submit their issues and complaints to the Minister.