Dehradun, June 4
Union minister of state for forest and environment (independent charge) Jairam Ramesh’s pledge to ensure strict implementation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, could not come at a more appropriate time.

The minister during his recent visit here , more importantly on the third day of his assuming office, said in no uncertain terms that no concessions would be allowed in the implementation of the Act.

The state of Uttarakhand is at the cross-roads while trying to meet its development challenges. It is true that strict implementation of the Forest Conservation Act is the need of the hour, taking into account the rampant unlawful felling of trees in the recent times.

But at the same time there is popular demand for flexibility in these laws to facilitate development in this backward region.

Uttarakhand forest minister Bansidhar Bhagat says there is no denying the fact that conservation of forests should be of paramount importance. But this should not be allowed to obstruct development.

People’s Science Institute president Dr Ravi Chopra believes that any conservation initiative can be successful only if communities that are part of such an exercise are also benefited.

“The Centre must pay Uttarakhand an eco system preservation fee and this amount must go to the communities working for conservation,” Dr Ravi Chopra says, particularly referring to the movement started by women folk in Almora towards conserving the origin of the Kosi.

“The least that can be done is that these women be given LPG cylinders free
at their doorstep,” he says, stressing that quality life must not suffer on the
pretext of conservation.

The union minister on his visit here said he had asked Indian Council of Forestry Research Education officials to provide him with details by August-end on the quantum of carbon absorbed by the standing forests.

The statement assumes significance keeping in view Uttarkhand’s long-
standing demand for adequate financial compensation in lieu of the forests
maintained by the state.

Significantly, the minister lauded the efforts of the Eco Task Force towards restoring greenery in Mussoorie, Dehradun and far-flung Pitthoragarh.

He backed more such ex-servicemen initiatives towards conservation of environment across the country.

Uttarakhand, at the same time, faces a dilemma while it struggles to draw a line between development and conservation.

A total of 350 sq km of forestland in the state has been transferred for nonforestry purposes like irrigation, roads, telecommunication, mining, drinking water projects and transmission lines.

Any non-forestry activity on forestland is subject to clearance by the union environment and forest ministry.

Even while people in Uttarakhand strongly favour relaxating stringent forest laws for speedy forestland transfer, this has proved counter-productive as a state with 60 per cent of its area under forests have been losing tree cover slowly and steadily.

Now with Centre making amply clear that it is for stricter implementation of the Forest Conservation Act, there is hope that transfer of forestry land for non-forestry purposes will be checked.

At the same time, the resentment among locals that the legislastion hinders development is bound to aggravate.

The Planning Commission had some time back proposed a formula to decide on incentives to be zprovided to forest-rich states in lieu of the forest cover maintained by them. At present, there is no such mechanism in place.

In November 2007, a study put the Uttarakhand forest wealth at $2.4 billion (approximately Rs 10,700 crore) per year in terms of the services they provide.

These services include carbon sequestration, climate management, hydrological regulation, timber, firewood, soil conservation, pollination and non-timber products.

The study entitled “Valuation of Eco system Services and Forest Governance” prepared by the Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) India and its partner organisation Central Himalayan Environmental Association (CHEA) under the guidance of Prof SP Singh, says the services rendered by the state forests need to be recognised and compensated for.

Meanwhile, as part of World Environment Day celebrations, the forest department, under the guidelines of the UN Environment Programme, is conducting one of the biggest ever cleanliness campaign across the state tomorrow (June 5).

As many as 60 townships will be covered under the campaign involving 20,000 people who will collect litter in the form of plastic bottles and polythene bags.

Dehradun, June 4
Officials and employees of all nationalised banks today staged a demonstration under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions at Gandhi Park here.

Addressing the gathering, convener of the forum BP Mamgai said that all nationalised banks in the country will go on a day’s strike on June 12.

“In order to put pressure on the government to clear the issue of fixation of the salary of bank employees, which is pending since November 1, 2007, we have decided to go on strike and around 10 lakh bank officials and employees will participate in it,” he said.

The protesting employees said that the salary of the central government employees had witnessed an increase of 40 per cent as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

“Notwithstanding the fact that profit of the banks has touched the 50 per cent figure, talks are on for giving a hike of just 15 per cent to bank officials and employees,” they said.

The employees also expressed their resentment over the government’s casual attitude towards giving jobs on compassionate grounds to family members of bank employees, who lost their life on duty.

Mamgai announced that even after the June 12 strike, if the government fails to take corrective measures, they will be forced to go on an indefinite strike.

Prominent among others present at the dharna include Jagmohan Mehandi Ratta, Sanjay Bhatia, RK Gairola, SS Rajwar, Hariom Narang, Satish Ghai, KP Singh, Raman Gandhi, Ranjan Pundir and Manoj Kumar.

Dehradun, June 4
Pre-monsoon showers have brought much-needed relief from forest fires in the state, which has lost over 3,500 hectare of its green cover in several areas, including its famous tiger reserves in over 1,400 incidents of fire this summer.

Forest officials said no major fire incident has been reported during the past fortnight as pre-monsoon rains have cooled the hill state during the period.

"The forest fires have come to zero level," said RBS Rawat, Uttarakhand Principal Chief Forest Conservator.

In March-April, the forest fires created havoc in the jungles of Garhwal and Kumaon regions, including the famous Jim Corbett and Rajaji national parks, house for animals like Asiatic elephants and tigers.

A total of ten people were killed and 15 others, including nine forest personnel, were injured in the various incidents of fire.

As many as 120 forest-fire incidents were reported in Jim Corbett National park, Nanda Devi park and Rajaji park, where 390 hectare of jungles were destroyed.

However, no loss of wildlife has been reported. According to official data, altogether 3,551 hectares of forest has so far been gutted in the fire this season.

Forest fires are mainly caused by rising temperature in jungles due to which tree leaves especially those belonging to pines become dry and catch fire. — PTI