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De-notify RF areas that cover major towns: Pul

By The Assam Tribune

ITANAGAR, April 20 - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has appealed to the Centre for de-notification of reserved forest areas that cover major towns and large human habitations, especially those in the foothill areas, on a case-by-case basis.

He said this in a meeting with Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar at New Delhi recently.

The CM said the State Government intends to undo the past injustice, where many existing villages and community lands were notified as reserved forest, especially during 1970s to 1990s, an official report said here.

�The boundaries of reserved areas were drawn without actually mapping the area on the ground flouting all the rules and procedures,� Pul pointed out.

Even important institutions and establishments in Itanagar, such as Raj Bhawan, CM�s office, and many important government building are well within the notified areas.

Several banks and financial institutions such as NeDFI and NABARD are not ready to invest or provide loan for setting up businesses due to such constraints. Pul pointed out that many reserved areas are without forest cover, poor vegetation and without signs of any wildlife, which could be de-notified to make room for development. � PTI

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