BJP

DEHRADUN: The BJP in its manifesto has committed to offer green bonus to Himalayan states including Uttarakhand which has over seventy percent forest cover.

The BJP move has been hailed by senior party leaders, environmentalists and activists who have been pitching for the provision of the green bonus.

Naresh Bansal, BJP state interim president, said, “It was a suggestion which we got from many people in Uttarakhand. Accordingly, our party has committed in the manifesto to give green bonus to all the Himalayan states.” Bansal also added that the Congress regime was never serious about the green bonus.

Commenting on the manifesto, environmentalist Ravi Chopra said, “The green bonus for the Himalayan states is necessary, because environmentalists’ restrictions limit the state’s infrastructure expansion. The main question is how much money is earmarked for the green bonus.”

He claimed that the concept of the green bonus is not new. “Ten years ago, the Planning Commission had cleared Rs 1000 crore of green bonus for 11 Himalayan states. However, it was too meagre to help any state,” said Chopra.

He added that the green bonus should be devised in a manner that it helps villagers in hills who have limited income generation opportunities. “Ideally, the green bonus must directly transfer resources like free gas, free power, free fodder, ration and banking, and also offer financial help to the villagers of the Himalayan region,” said Chopra.

