State seeks Rs 3,000 cr as blue, green bonuses

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 12

The Uttarakhand government has demanded Rs 3,000 crore as blue bonus and green bonus from the Central government, as the state provides water and environment resources to the whole country.

Dhirendra Pratap and Vijay Saraswat, senior Congress leaders holding ministerial rank posts, stated this at a media conference here today.

The state government has already sought Rs 10,000 crore for Ganga cleaning and a special fund for restoration and rebuilding works in the natural disaster-hit areas.

Dhirendra Pratap also demanded 10 per cent reservation in the Indian Administrative Services and provincial services for the children of identified Uttarakhand statehood fighters.

“Uttarakhand’s natural water resources are used more by other states. Similarly, 67 per cent of our land is reserved forest. We contribute to fulfilling water requirement and environment conservation, and hence we need a special package in the form of blue and green bonuses,” he said.

Spokesperson for the Congress Anshul Shri Kunj expressed happiness at the allocation of ministerial rank posts to 45 party leaders. Chief Minister Harish Rawat would address a rally being organised by the Uttarakhand Ekta Manch in New Delhi on December 18.

Veteran women leader Poonam Bhagat criticised the previous BJP government in the state for its failure to use Rs 205 crore green bonus package provided by the UPA government.

Former legislator Ambrish Kumar, Rajesh Rastogi, Sanjay Paliwal, Satpal Brahamchari, JP Pandey, and Meera Raturi were present on the occasion.