Page 36 - 15OCT2018E

POLITICS

while power sector suffered a loss landslides, floods were discussed
to the tune of 24.50 crore. thoroughly and said to be more dis-
astrous for state in future if proper Ravan’s release may
Experts view steps are not taken soon’’, he said.
Experts believe that the main rea- The total Geographical Area
son behind cloud bursts and land- (GA) of the state is 55,673 sq kms
slides is uncontrolled tree-felling with a total forest cover of 15,100
due to various reasons which also sq km, which is 27.12 per cent of the
include developmental projects. geographic area. The forest cover intensify Dalit stir
RL Jain, Vice-President of Shimla includes 3,110 sq km Very Dense
Amateur Gardens and Environ- Forest (VDF), 6,705 sq km Moder-
ment Society (SAGES), said that the ately Dense Forest (MDF) and 5,285
government should come forward sq km Open Forest (OF). However,
to save the environment in the hilly there are 15 states and UTs ahead of
state. ‘’Though few of the projects Himachal Pradesh with forest cover Dalit leader Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan, who was imprisoned drawing NSA from Chandrashekhar
are important keeping in view the of more than 33 per cent of the geo- @ Ravan and hastily released him at
demand of the increased popula- graphic area. The fifth India State of in June 2017 after being charged under the National Security Act in midnight from the Saharanpur Jail.
tion, there is big need of saving the Forest Report (ISFR)-2017 by Forest connection with the Saharanpur caste violence case, is finally out of jail In a jam packed court room when
trees in the state,” he added. GOVIND SINGH THAKUR, Survey of India (FSI) also reveal that human rights lawyer and senior advo-
Recently a three day state level Forest Minister, Himachal Pradesh with an increase in 0.71 per cent and planning future course of action, writes. MUDIT MATHUR reports cate Colin Gonsalves assisted by Shreeji
workshop at Dharamshala (Kangra) forest cover, Himachal Pradesh is Bhavsar stood to argue the merits of the
by the Ministry for Environment, eighth amongst the states and Un- he Uttar Pradesh (UP) govern- mitting the petition challenging detention case, state’s counsel Sanjay Tyagi passed
Forest and Climate Change in which Forestry and environment ion Territories in the country to re- ment preferred to revoke its of Chandrashekar @ Ravan (founder of on the notification to the bench inform-
most of the participants felt strongly protection can’t be successful cord rise in forest area. decision to avoid the test of BHIM Army) under NSA. As soon as the no- ing that the petitioner Chandrashekhar
about the need to saving the trees. without proper guidance and According to the report, the main judicial scrutiny before the apex tice was served upon the state government had already been set free from prison
Anu Anand, head advocacy of CMS public participation. The participa- reason for the net increase of 393 sq T court where the unlawful de- and District Magistrate, Saharanpur on as government had decided to with -
(Centre for Media Studies) said, “To- tion of Panchayats is necessary km in forest cover in the state can tention of Chandrashekhar Azad @ ‘Ravan’ 21.08.2018 to justify its decision to put him draw the charges against him under
day most of the people know about for forestry and environmental be attributed to plantation and con- had become unsustainable and arbitrary behind the bars for about a year in prison NSA. The Bench comprising chief justice
climate change, global warming protection. In order to ensure the servation activities both within and action aimed at settling score with politi- under preventive detention on the ground Dipak Mishra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and
and pollution and problems cre- maximum role of panchayats in outside the Recorded Forest Areas cal adversaries. of security threat to national interests and Justice DY Chandrachud took the revoca-
ated by tree-felling. Though every- forest activities, the state govern- as well as improvement in inter- Azad was emerging as a champion of integrity, the government found it to be in tion order on the records of the case and
one seems to be worried about the ment has started Mukhya Mantri pretation due to better radiometric Dalit resurgence under his newly formed a tight spot as there was no substantially disposed of the matter becoming infruc-
changing climatic conditions but a Van Mitra Panchayat Puraskaar’ resolution of the recent satellite outfit Bhim Army. His counter-influence credible evidence to support the charges tuous in view of the steps taken by the
very few people have proper knowl- scheme. Under this scheme, first data. However, there was only 18 sq had become perennial headache for saf- before the apex court. government.
edge to handle the situation or con- prize of 1 lakh, second prize of km increase of forest cover in the fron forces as he was instrumental to rees- So perplexed state government re - During an interview with “Tehelka” the
trol the problem. The role of media 75,000 and third prize of 50,000 three tribal districts with a GA area tablish Dalit-Muslims unity with an aim to voked its decision and withdrew NSA counsel for Azad, Shreeji Bhavsar said, “The
counts a lot as by disseminating would be given for outstanding of 26,764 sq km, which are consid- defuse evil designs of communal polarisa- charges before the upcoming hearing Uttar Pradesh Government had planned
scientific and required information contribution in forest protection/ ered to be among most affected due tion in the most sensitive western UP, par- date on 20th September before chief to malign the image of Chandrashekhar
and knowledge regarding the issue fire protection, raising of best plan- to various hydel projects. ticularly Saharanpur and its surrounding justice court. Yogi government issued as criminal, extremist or insurgent and
among public, it can do a great help tation, biodiversity conservation, In various projects, experts said, areas. notification on September 13, 2018 with- therefore registered false and fabricated
in tackling this menace.” developing sustainable usufruct more trees are cut by the compa- In Uttar Pradesh, ever since BJP came cases against him. When Chandrashekar
Hydel projects have also cost and sharing mechanism. nies than the sanctioned number. to power, an unprecedented onslaught secured bail through due judicial process
heavily to eco system of the state. This is done in the alleged conniv- on the political rivals has been witnessed Soon after his in all such cases either by the Trial Court
The Himachal government has ance of corrupt officials. This hugely in the dictatorial behaviour of its admin- or High Court of Allahabad as there were
granted a large number of hydel has been loss of crores of rupees in impacts greenery as not enough istrative machinery, especially target- release from jail, apparent malafides and abuse of the pow-
power projects to the state and out- terms of property and agriculture. trees are planted to cover the losses. ing group leaders of Muslims and Dalits Bhim Army chief er on the face of records. The government
side companies. These projects are Guman Singh, National Coor- ‘’Most of the saplings destroy be- by misusing draconian laws of preven- arbitrarily blocked his release by detaining
one of the major reasons in disbal- dinator at Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, cause after they are planted but no tive detention to muzzle dissent. The Chandrashekhar him further by slapping NSA and kept him
ancing the ecology of the state. Till said that unscientific exploitation of body takes care of them. More than most prominent of those arrested under Azad said he will behind the bars for such a long time under
1992, as many as 487 people had lost nature could be held responsible for half of the planted saplings are up- National Security Act (NSA) is the Bhim unlawful preventive detention.”
their lives due to cloud bursts only all environment related problems. rooted by animals, by rains or they Army leader, Chandrashekhar Azad campaign against BJP Reacting sharply on his dramatic mid-
in Kullu district. More than 1,200 ‘’Continuously increasing emission are destroyed for various reasons,’’ @ ‘Ravan.’ to ensure its defeat night release from prison, Shreeji said,
people have so far died in cloud of greenhouse gases, deforestation, said Guman Singh of HNA. Supreme Court took cognizance of “Fearing final hearing and anticipating
burst incidents in the state in the melting glaciers, extreme weather such detention issuing notice to state in the 2019 Lok Sabha rebuke from the apex court, the U.P. gov-
last two decades. Besides, there events, human-wildlife conflict, LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM government and District Magistrate, ernment got revoked NSA from Chan-
Saharanpur on 10th August, 2018, while ad- elections drashekhar, which clearly shows that dra-

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