Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: BJP today demanded setting up of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority in the State also as has been proposed by Uttarakhand Government after the recent natural calamity in Kedar Ghati which claimed thousands of lives and wrecked havoc in the State.
The demand was made by BJP national co-convener Kashmir Cell Chander Mohan Sharma while talking to reporters here along with Subash Chander a save Tawi activist, BJP activists Munish Sharma and Balbir Ram.
Justifying the demand he said in J&K also constructions have been made on river banks and in forest area after encroaching the forest land and felling the trees. He said this has also led to lot of pollution and can pose a threat to ecology. He demanded immediate ban be imposed on construction over river banks, nallas and on forest land and stressed for a balanced approach on rivers and water bodies development.
The authority would ensure that the all new constructions beyond the stipulated free area should be done under strict plan and should long lasting to withstand the impact of earthquakes and other natural disasters, he said.
The Government also should frame a policy and the views of the environmentalists be sought in this regard.
Expressing concern over the growing encroachments by land mafia in the State, Mr Sharma demanded that the Government should tighten its noose against them and ensure that the forest land and other Government land is not encroached.
He said that BJP will expose the land scams in the State and stressed that river Tawi and Chenab be freed from pollution and encroachments. The Government should promote eco-friendly industries instead of polluting units in the State.
He said the Tawi river is facing the pollution threat and all efforts be made to free the river from the same.