Uttarakhand heaves sigh of relief after Ramesh's transfer

The transfer of Jairam Ramesh from the environment ministry to rural development has come as a big relief for the BJP government in Uttarakhand.

“We are thankful to the Prime Minister for removing Jairam Ramesh from the environment ministry. We are hopeful that the new minister (Jayanti Natrajan) will not put any hurdles in the path of development of Uttarakhand,” said BJP spokesman Satish Lakhera.

Last month, the state BJP had asked the Prime Minister to sack Ramesh when he had threatened to invoke environment protection act against Uttarakhand on the issue of illegal mining in the Ganga.

Ramesh had asked the Uttarakhand government to stop illegal sand mining, locally known as ‘khanan’, in the Ganga, and threatened to take action under the provisions of Section 5 of Environment Protection Act, in case the government fails to do so.

He had been particularly critical of the government, after the death of Swami Nigmanand, for its failure to stop such mining activities.

However, social activists who were protesting against against hydropower projects, were not happy with the transfer. Ramesh had sided with these activists to stop three major hydro projects in the hill state.

The state government was also against the formation of 135 km long eco-sensitive zone between Gangotri and Uttarkashi, an idea conceptualised and insisted upon by the former environment minister.