Unemployment, eco-sensitive zone major issues in Gangotri

Ajay Ramola

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 20

The BJP has named Gopal Rawat as its candidate from the Gangotri Assembly seat for the 2017 elections, but the exercise for the Congress is still on. According to sources, sitting MLA Vijay Pal Sajwan is the front-runner for the Congress nomination from Gangotri.

Major issues such eco-sensitive zone, migration from hills, unemployment, road connectivity and tourism development will decide the outcome of the elections.

Voters say that both BJP and Congress are responsible for the problems arising due to the enforcement of the eco-sensitive zone clause in the constituency. Both parties blame each other for the eco-sensitive zone where the state government can’t carry out development works, leading to resentment among people.

The issue is ready to haunt the candidates again. Voters blame both parties for the chaos around the eco-sensitive zone development plan issue and believe that the candidates of both parties will face a tough time over the issue.

The issue cropped up during the 2012 elections when the Congress pasted posters declaring that the previous UPA government at the Centre had taken back the order of the eco-sensitive zone, resulting in victory for the Congress from Gangotri. However, the truth is that the eco-sensitive zone issue remained unresolved during the rule of the Narendra Modi government.

The district administration after the directives of the National Green Tribunal had sent a plan to the Union Government for approval but was rejected. Chief Minister Harish Rawat blamed the BJP-led Central government for the situation and protested at Jantar Mantar recently. He said around 88 villages had been affected due to the Modi government’s decision.

On the other hand, BJP leader Lokendar Bisht, who had filed a PIL in the Uttarakhand High Court, says it is the Congress that is to be blamed for the eco-sensitive zone fiasco. Besides hiring a costly lawyer to plead the case, the government did nothing and failed to file a petition in the matter.

Besides the eco-sensitive zone, the other issues include migration from villages bordering China, unemployment and lack of educational and health facilities.

Inadequate public transport facilities, delay in the start of a polytechnic, staff shortage in government schools are few other issues. Migration from remote border villages is on the rise in the constituency.

Prakash Rangarh, a local resident, says residents had a harrowing experience during the Magh Mela celebrations as ghats in Utarkashi that were damaged during the natural disaster in 2013 had not been reconstructed. Shiv Singh Thalwal, a senior journalist, says Gangotri is a border area constituency that has suffered due to the apathy of public representatives.