Noted spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji expressed concern over the depleting glaciers in Uttarakhand. He said local people should be involved in the crusade to save the environment. “I was in Manila recently. People there complained me that they faced floods since glaciers are shrinking in India (Himalayas). What we need today to save our glaciers like Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand is massive plantation,” he said. Sri Sri Ravishankar was addressing a gathering of distinguished persons at Chief Minister’s residence in Dehradun.
During the interaction, Chief Minister Dr Nishank apprised Sri Sri Ravishankar of Char Dham, Hemkund Sahib and Piran Kaliyar, where lots of religious tourists come every year. Dr Nishank said the State Government’s priority is to organise Kumbh Mela-2010 and for this infrastructure is being developed by the State. In a bid to motivate people to cultivate medicinal products, the State Government has prepared detailed plan. Recently Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev expressed his desire to buy Rs 1500 crore medicinal plants per year from local farmers.
The Chief Minister said Sri Sri’s blessing for State residents would send good message among the masses. Dr Nishank said ensuring immaculate arrangements for the forthcoming Maha Kumbh Mela is being accorded top priority by the state government, with infrastructure development tasks underway. He also spoke at length regarding abundance of herbal plants in Uttarakhand, stating that a proposal to procure herbal plants worth 1500 crore rupees per annum from local farmers was put forth by Baba Ramdev recently that would augment job opportunities in the State.
Prominent persons and officials present on the occasion included Assembly Speaker Harbans Kapoor, Forest Minister Bishan Singh Chufal, Tourism Minister Madan Kaushik, MLAs Ganesh Joshi, Kuldeep Singh, Parliamen¬tary Secretary Premchand Aggarwal, Planning Com¬mission Vice Chairman Manohar Kant Dhyani, organisation secretary general of state BJP Naresh Bansal and others.
By Ravindra Saini
