Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Jul: BJP state spokesperson Ravindra Jugran met Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal at the Secretariat and submitted a letter to him, raising concerns over the right of way for villagers in the Haripur (Mussoorie) area (which is also called George Everest area), environmental and biodiversity conservation, land demarcation and alleged irregularities. Jugran has urged the government to initiate necessary investigation and action to safeguard the interests of the local residents and protect the ecological balance of the region.
The letter cites constitutional provisions including Article 14 on the right to equality, Article 19(1)(d) on freedom of movement within the country, Article 21 on the right to life, Article 48A on the duty of the state to protect the environment and forests, and Article 51A(g) on the fundamental duty of citizens to safeguard the natural environment. It also refers to key legislations such as the Environment (Protection) Act, 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1986, the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1972.
Jugran emphasised that villagers’ rights of access must be upheld and that unchecked irregularities in land use and construction can cause serious harm to biodiversity and the environment. He called for a strict adherence to constitutional and statutory provisions and urged the authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in the process. In this respect, the Secretary has marked the application to ACO for necessary action.
