Apple growers body to protest at Secretariat

The Seb Utpadak Sangh will hold a protest in front of the Secretariat on July 29 against the felling of apple trees and eviction of people in the upper Shimla area.

The Forest Department has launched a drive to remove apple trees from the encroached forestland following the orders of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh to this effect.

The Seb Utpadak Sangh and the Himachal Kisan Sabha, which are associated with the CPM, called a meeting of the apple growers at Hatkoti in Jubbal yesterday. “Not only we will hold a protest in front of the Secretariat on July 29 against the drive but also oppose the cutting of apple trees,” said Sohan Thakur, president, Seb Utpadak Sangh. Rakesh Singha, former CPM MLA from Theog, and CPM state secretary Sanjay Chauhan also attended the meeting and addressed the gathering.

Chauhan said that the felling of tress was not appropriate in any way. “We are asking the government to stop felling trees. We are also seeking an amendment to the Forest Conservation Act to ensure that the poor and the needy can be given forestland. When the Forest Conservation Act can be relaxed to give forestland to big industrialist, why it can’t be relaxed to give up to five bighas to the poor and the needy,” added Chauhan.