Dhumal assures no infringing on locals’ right to forests

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,who on Tuesday reached the state’s remotest area of Chhota Bengal in Kangar district — the area still lacks proper road links and other basic infrastructure facilitates — assured that forest rights of the locals will be fully protected after rationalisation of the boundary of a local wildlife sanctuary.

The state government has submitted a proposal to the Centre seeking the exclusion of nearly 1.21 lakh population out of the limits of wildlife sanctuaries. These include 13,341 residents from Bara and Chhota Bhangal area. According to reports,nearly 15 villages in Chhota and Bara Bhangal are located in remote forests. The villagers depend on the forests for wood to construct houses,fuel and fodder for their cattle.

Dhumal,who received a rousing welcome when he reached Chhota Bengal,addressed a public meeting at Multhan — a remote area in Baijnath sub-division.

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He said that the Kangra deputy commissioner will hold a public hearing,which will consider the views of the affected families or the villagers proposed to be excluded from the sanctuary areas. He asked the locals to share their views during the hearing so that their interests are fully protected.

The chief minister also announced that while Multhan sub tehsil will be upgraded to a tehsil,a marketing yard will be constructed in Chhota Bhangal to facilitate the marketing of vegetables grown in the area. As many as Rs 10 lakh will be spent for the purpose. Construction of bridges are also in the pipeline.