Aromatic plant growers in Uttarakhand hold protests

Aromatic plant growers in Uttarakhand are holding dharnas and demonstrations against what they call neglect of their sector by the state government.

Farmers allege that the government is not showing any interest in the sector despite getting huge funds from the Centre and also has not resolved a host of other issues.

While one section of farmers is holding protest demonstrations seeking action against Nripendra Chauhan, head of the Centre for Aromatic Plants (CAP) for allegedly taking consultancy fees under the garb of setting up new projects, the other section is agitated against top officials of the horticulture department for not releasing funds for the plantation under different schemes.

“We are witnessing an overall neglect of the aromatic plant sector with the government not lending any support. It is but natural that farmers are now angry,” said Ramesh Kumar, an aromatic grower from Vikasnagar area of Dehradun district.

Another reason which caused the neglect of the sector was a long-drawn battle between horticulture secretary Vinod Fonia and Chauhan.

Chief Minister B C Khanduri recently transferred Fonia to the department of rural development on the recommendation of agriculture minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in the wake of the agitation.

Fonia had filed a chargesheet against Nripen Chauhan for illegally taking consultancy fees from farmers under the garb of setting up new aromatic plant projects. Fonia had acted on complaints from farmers that CAP was taking consultancy fees under “development of commercial horticulture through production and post management” scheme.

Fonia in the chargesheet had pointed out that Chauhan also gave false promise to farmers to buyback plants under the project proposal.

Fonia also cited the names of some farmers like Kabul Chand, who had lodged complaints with the government in this regard.

However, Chauhan in turn sought the support of the horticulture minister, who immediately removed Fonia from the post of horticulture secretary.