The much- awaited industrial reforms in Uttarakhand face a setback with the State Forest Department scuttling the move of the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand limited (SIIDCUl), Sitarganj, to cut about 9,000 trees for industrial infrastructure development in Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar, under SIIDCUl phase -II. The area that has been taken up for development for industrial expansion at Sitarganj under SIIDCUl phase -II falls under the territorial jurisdiction of the Terai East forest division.
Therefore, as per the forest laws, the Forest Department's nod is vital to carry out tree felling for infrastructure development or any other developmental activity.So, keeping in view the forest laws, the Terai-east forest division has suggested to SIIDCUl, Sitarganj to plant 9,000 trees elsewhere by way of controlling the damage to be caused by felling some.
“We have received a letter from the SIIDCUl, Sitarganj, in which it (the SIIDCUl, Sitarganj) sought permission to cut about 9,000 trees in a phased manner to carry out industrial infrastructure development in Sitarganj under the SIIDCUl phase -II,” said N C Pant, SDO, Terai-east forest division.
“Since permission for felling such a large number of trees i.e. 9,000 cannot be granted as per the law and, more importantly, keeping in view the environmental concerns, therefore, we have advised the officials concerned of the SIIDCUl, Sitarganj to plant the trees elsewhere,” Pant added.
As the experts here maintain, plantation of mature trees is a tough task. But nowadays the environment conscious Governments seek to save trees by way of their re-plantation instead of felling them outright to clear decks for industrialisation. Since India does not have such kind of machines used to plant big trees, the officials concerned of the SIIDCUl would have to import such from countries like the US to uproot the trees for their re- plantation, the experts here maintain.
It may be recalled that the then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Vijay Bahuguna proposed industrial infrastructure development at Sitarganj under SIIDCUl phase -II in 2012 to boost the State industrial sector.
Since then, in fact, during the past two years, much has not been done to push the industrial reforms on because of certain political developments, including change of guards at the Government level followed by big political events like general elections. Now the foremost challenge before the State Government is how to address the environmental concerns like saving about 9,000 trees in Sitarganj area while acting on its agenda of industrial development.