International Biodiversity Day celebrated

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 22

Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat on Tuesday asserted that it is basically the common man of Uttarakhand who has worked for safeguarding the biodiversity in the region which today stands as one of richest in the country.

Attending the International Biodiversity Day celebrations at Navdanya Biodiversity Farm in Dehradun, Harak Singh Rawat reminded Gaura Devi’s environment conservation Chipko movement in Garhwal hills was later replicated worldwide.

He also took the opportunity to seek green bonus for Uttarakhand. He said Uttarakhand had always been in the forefront of conserving environment for which the state was yet to be compensated.

Rawat honoured the farmers, who excelled in safeguarding the indigenous Basmati rice of Dehradun. He also handed over first Gaura Devi Biodiversity Conservation Award to Sushma Juyal, a farmer from Herbertpur, Dehradun. The award has been instituted by Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board and carries a cash award of Rs 10,000 and a citation.