Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Uttarakhand demands ''green bonus''

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Uttarakhand today demanded a ''green bonus'' for its "contribution" in preserving the country''s ecology.

Addressing a meeting of state Finance Ministers chaired by Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee here, Uttarkahand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said several developmental works in the state are hindered due to the Forest Act which prohibits cutting down of trees.

Since 65 per cent of the state''s area is covered by forests, little space is available for development work, Nishank said at the meeting.

The Chief Minister demanded a ''green bonus'' from the Centre for Uttarakhand''s role in preserving the country''s ecology, a statement from Uttarkhand government said.

Advocating a special economic package on the lines of Northeastern states, ''Nishank'' demanded that the package provided earlier to Uttarakhand be extended till 2017.

The Centre did not extend the Industrial Promotion Package for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand that provided excise and other duty concessions for new projects beyond March 31, 2010 despite intense lobbying by Chief Ministers of both the states.

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