Don’t spoil environment for petty gains: Minister

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 29

State Forest Minister Dr Harak Singh Rawat today called upon the industry to understand environmental concerns and not to spoil it for petty profits.

Dr Rawat was addressing the 8th Environment Summit organised by Uttarakhand chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) here today. He said the environment was linked to life of one and all and the industry should deal with the environment cautiously and should not pollute the environment.

“We believe in cooperative and friendly attitude towards the industry but you should also understand the concerns of environment and should not contribute towards pollution. Just for some profit, we can’t make the entire society to be a loser,” he pointed out.

He asserted that the proposed Ramnagar-Kotdwar road in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand that would criss-cross Corbett landscape would be of immense benefit for the industries and it would not only lessen the distance between the two cities but will also help Uttarakhand business avoid entering Uttar Pradesh now and then. He said the proposed road would be in consent with the environment and the wildlife and could have its major stretch in an elevated form.

He said Uttarakhand that was one of the biggest contributors towards environment protection was yet to get its due justice. “Even from compensatory afforestation fund that is made up of financial contributions against conversion of forestry land into non forestry activities in Uttarakhand, the state gets a little from a fund that is its very own,” he said.

Confederation of Indian Industries, Uttarakhand chapter, Vikas Garg said the industry in the state was totally sensitive towards environmental issues affecting the state. Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology’s Director-General Dr Rajendra Dobhal was also present on the occasion.