New Delhi/ Dehradun 22 May:
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has urged the Union Labour and Employment Minister to extend time duration of ESI Scheme benefit from existing 3 years to 5 years for Uttarakhand. He also met Union environment and Forest Minister and discussed issue relating to setting up of NIT Centre in the state and issue pertaining to quarrying.
Chief Minister Bahuguna during his meeting with the Union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Khadge at New Delhi on Tuesday stated that the time duration for North-Eastern states were five years and as Uttarakhand had similar geographical condition and was under special state category the ESI benefit duration be increased from three to five years. Mr. Bahuguna also assured the Union Minister to approve, on the state level, various schemes relating to public welfare under Centre's ESI schemes pending since five years in the state, within 15 to 20 days.
Union Minister said that Uttarakhand was not able to avail of the National Health Insurance Scheme launched by the Centre and stressed on taking the scheme to all the districts of Uttarakhand. Mr. Bahuguna assured him to take necessary measures in this direction.
Chief Minister Bahuguna also called on Union environment and Forest Minister Jayanti Natrajan and discussed issue relating to final approval of NIT in Pauri District. The Centre is running 10 NITs since 2010 including 6 in North-Eastern States on temporary basis. The Union Minister has assured of positive action in this regard.
Chief Minister Bahuguna speaking on the context of Centre's decision to declare Pavalgarh area in Nainital district as Wildlife sanctuary area and prohibition for quarrying in riverbeds in this area said that there was no internal relation between wildlife sanctuary area and quarrying and Uttarakhand had already reserved 14 per cent of forest area as wildlife sanctuary as against the set minimum National standard of 4 percent. It may be noted that the prerogative to decide wildlife sanctuary area lies with the state government. Chief Minister Bahuguna urged the Union Minister to consider the present situation in the state and approve for 10 years (One-time) quarrying of riverbeds instead of 1 year and lift prohibition of quarrying from wildlife sanctuary areas. Mr. Bahuguna also urged the Union Minister to implement the approval given for setting up a regional office of the Ministry in Dehradun so that all the issues pertaining to forest could be resolved at the earliest and development programs expedited. The Union Minister assured to consider both the matters.
