Union Minister of State for Culture and Environment, Forests and Climate Change Mahesh Sharma said the Central Government is considering authorising the State Governments for issues related to forest areas within 100 kilometres of the line of actual control on international borders. Directions for Uttarakhand on this subject will also be issued soon, he said.The Minister said that he will call a meeting within a fortnight to address the various issues of U’khand pertaining to the forest department. A science city fully financed by the Central Government will also be established in Dehradun city.
This and other issues were discussed by the CM Trivendra Singh Rawat with the Union Minister of State for Culture and Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Mahesh Sharma here on Sunday. During the discussions, Sharma also granted in-principle approval for construction of a museum costing Rs 11 crore on the life of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali in Pauri district; a Ganga museum costing Rs 20 crore near the Bhagirathi river in Tehri district and a museum in the Uday Shankar academy in Almora. Along with these, the Central Government has also granted approval for a large science city in Dehradun fully financed by the centre. The State Govt has also selected land for this purpose.
The Central will provide Rs 190 crore for this science city project. Apart from this, Sharma responded positively for establishing science cities costing Rs 10-30 crore in other towns depending on the population.
Regarding issues pertaining to forest department, Sharma said that he will call a meeting of the officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the U’khand State officials within a fortnight to facilitate concrete steps on all the issues. The Minister also responded proactively on the issue of the Ramnagar-Kotdwar Kandi Road raised by the State. Rawat said that State Government is working on green road and all other environment-friendly options for the Kandi Road.
He said that the State Government is also taking the suggestions of Wildlife Institute of India and other specialist organisations for this purpose. He said that the Kandi Road is very important for the people of Uttarakhand and tourism in the State. The State demanded a five-year extension of the right to approve up to one hectare forest land transfer.
The State also demanded five-year authorisation for approval of up to five hectare forest land transfer in disaster affected districts, a right which expired in 2016.
The forest dept officials also informed the Minister about the provisions of the Bhagirathi eco sensitive zone in which the State requires flexibility and amendment as per its needs. The need for controlled green felling of trees above 1,000 metres altitude proscribed by the law at present was also discussed in the meeting.