HimVani
Shimla: Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA) Yatra, an environment awareness campaign, reached Chamba on Saturday whereby delegates addressed a huge gathering at Jadera Panchayat. While addressing the public, president of HNA Guman Singh said people were concerned over the consequences of Hull hydal project coming up in the area as it would destroy the irrigation system of at least 26 nearby villages.
He alleged that villagers raised dense forest in the area either through gram panchayat fund or by Harit Himachal Fund, which is the best example of community afforest ration, but the same would now no longer be possible. With the installation of the project, both forest and their irrigation system would be destroyed, he claimed. He observed that on one hand the government is continuously saying that the state is heading towards carbon sequestration, and on the other hand it is selling and destroying hundreds of hectare of forest through micro hydal projects.
A similar protest was held at Gagret in Una district, where the Yatra was welcomed at Shivpuri panchayat. A public meeting was held where people placed their concerns against the upcoming SEZ. A protest was also held at Jhanduta Bajar of Bilaspur where speakers raised the issue of displacement due to Bhakhra dam. Local leaders Nand Lal Sharma and Gautam addressed the public meeting.
