Residents of about 130 villages in the Ukhimath block of Rudrapraryag district have complained about being deprived of traditional rights on natural resources and approved developmental works including road construction due to the eco sensitive zone proposed for the Kedarnath musk deer sanctuary. The villagers approached the Uttarakhand State Human Rights Commission (USHRC) alleging violation of their human rights by authorities depriving them of already approved works like road construction and facilitation of electricity supply. The commission has issued an order to the State administration, directing the Chief Secretary to ensure hearing of all complaints and appropriate action within a period of six months.
In the UHRC order dated October 25 signed by its member Hemlata Dhaundiyal in case number 262 of complaint by Sateshwari Devi and others, it has been stated that the grievance of the complainant is also referred to in the report of the additional district magistrate of Rudraprayag. Addressing media persons in Dehradun, the Gram Pradhan of Ransi village, stated to be the geographically last village in the area, Roop Singh Negi said that as per the information they had been provided by the forest department under the Right to Information Act, various activities including construction of roads and power supply lines are prohibited in the ESZ area of the musk deer sanctuary. He said, “The officials are citing the ESZ provisions and guidelines stating the construction of roads, power supply lines and even repair of leaking water supply lines is prohibited in the area. People living in about 130 villages in this region are being deprived of even basic development in the name of the ESZ of the Kedarnath musk deer sanctuary. Work is not being allowed for construction even of such roads that were approved about six to 10 years ago by the authorities. The villagers have also been deprived of their traditional rights to local forest products with the department officials not allowing us to collect limited quantity of the naturally dried firewood to which we had access in the past. One of the motor roads worked upon in the past is lying incomplete as construction is not being allowed through a 1,200 metre stretch which officials say is part of the ESZ,” he said, while adding that affected villagers of the region had boycotted the previous assembly and three-tier Panchayat elections in protest on the issue.
The order of the UHRC states, “The grievance of the complainant against the area notified under the ESZ is a cause of concern for the villagers of the affected area. Since area notified has not been done to at the local level and local administration, a copy of this order along with the original complaint, collector’s report and objection filed by the counsel for the state government should be sent to the Chief Secretary for taking up the policy matter for resolution of the grievance. The chief secretary should also ensure hearing of all complaints and necessary action,” adds the commission’s order.