Compensate hill states for banning green felling: Bahuguna

Shimla, Apr 19 (UNI) Eminent environmentalist and social activist Sunder Lal Bahuguna today urged the central government to provide more financial aid to the hill states and compensate them for implementing blanket ban on green felling.

Addressing a news conference here, he said a complete ban on green felling in the hill states was financially affecting the local people and hence the central government should pay extra attention to the situation.

''The centre should adequately compensate the hill states for the loss of revenue due to the huge expenditure being incurred for the plantation and preservation of the green cover, besides the loss in revenue because of the sale of timber,'' he said.

Mr. Bahuguna held the view that preservation of natural resources was paramount for the development and prosperity of these states of Himachal and Uttaranchal.

Exhorting the community, especially the women, to resist the evil designs of people and businesses eying the forest wealth of the state, he said only their resistance would save the precious and invaluable forest wealth.

He attributed the success of the chipko movement to the direct action resorted to by the women, saying Matre Shakti (women) won the battle for them.

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