Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 4: The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone today directed the State Government to issue forest clearance to the Central Government funded and other developmental projects in the State within two months as opposition raised hue and cry over the issue.
The Speaker asked the Government to make a list of pending forest clearance cases of developmental projects across the State so that their clearance is pursued. He said that Government has only two options, either to say yes or no.
The National Panthers Party MLA, Harsh Dev Singh, raised the issue of pending developmental projects in the State due to forest clearance and alleged that these projects are suffering due to wrong policies of the Government.
Raising slogans against the Chief Secretary, who was also present in the gallery, the NPP MLAs held him responsible for sitting over the NOC for projects in their constituencies for which centre has released funds. Singh gave example of a road project in his constituency for which centre has released Rs 15 crore but it has not been taken yet due to lack of forest clearance.
The Minister for PHE, Taj Mohi-ud-Din while defending the Chief Secretary on NOCs’, said that he is following the Supreme Court directions on the issue. He made it clear to the legislators that the CS has no enmity with anyone and he is heading the empowered committee formed on SC directions.
Singh along with several NPP, PDP and independent MLA Engineer Rashid rose in protest against Taj Mohi-ud-Din Statement.
Harshdev said that the SC has given powers to the Chief Secretary and Forest Secretary who head two empowered committees under the SC guidelines to issue Forest clearance for projects.
MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia also said that a PHE project in his constituency is suffering for past 2-3 years due to the pending forest clearance. He demanded that Government should come forward and issue clearances as the funds have already been released for such projects.
The Congress MLA Mohammad Sharif Niaz also raised his concern over delay in forest clearance for projects in his constituency.
The NC MLA Chowdery Ramzan also raised concern over the forest clearance. He said that Kandi village in his constituency is also suffering due to lack of forest clearance for a PHE project.
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