Members of the Save Himalaya Movement (SHM) began a ‘march’ from Gopeshwar in Chamoli district on Sunday against the plan of the State Government to facilitate licensed farming of industrial hemp in Uttarakhand. This protest march will cover hundreds of kilometer to conclude at Dehradun on November 6 after which a demonstration will be staged at Gandhi Park in Dehradun on November 8.
Addressing the public, SHM member Sameer Raturi said that the future of the State’s youth might be in danger from the government’s plan to facilitate licensed cultivation of industrial hemp. Stating that successive State Governments had failed to decide the permanent State Capital in 15 years of State formation, Raturi questioned what the public could expect for development of mountainous regions. SHM core committee members Vinod Juglan and Pankaj Negi said that the government should promote ‘cash crops’ instead of promoting industrial hemp.
Accusing the State Government and condemning it for providing lands at nominal costs to people and enterprises from outside Uttarakhand, the protesters have said that they will demonstrate against various State Government policies in Dehradun on November 9, the State foundation day.The protest march will reach Nandprayag on Sunday itself. After this the SHM members will pass through Karnprayag, Gauchar and Rudraprayag before reaching Dehradun.