NCP demands leopard, deer parks in Vaishnodevi hills, Ghati

"We demand creation of buffer zones in Ghati areas in Kathua district and in the hills of Mata Vaishno Devi to save leopards, spotted deers and other wild animals for their growth on the directions of the Supreme Court of India with fixed time scheduled," Nationalist Congress Party state president Thakur Randhir Singh told reporters here.

Singh said that the wild animals and migratory birds are feeling highly disturbed due to industrial activity by SIDCO at Ghati Tehsil Kathua following which they are migrating from Ghati Forests, Jothana forests, Jasrota Forests and other wild reserver areas.

The NCP leader, also the Chairman of J&K Environmental, Ecology and Wildlife Protection Council, said that no permission of competent authorities like National Wildlife Protection Council State pollution Board was taken by the SIDCO before acquiring this valuable land from the poor peasants at cheaper rates.

He alleged that even peasants have not been provided land compensation whose land was acquired for setting up of industry at Ghati, which is a forest area.

Singh demanded that action must be taken against those, who violated the environmental laws while establishing Industrial estate at Ghati and the entire hinterland of Ujh river area.

The former minister asked the Forest and Environment minister to learn from the state like Rajasthan which has taken the lead in implementing the Supreme Court order within six months and created buffer zones around Ranthambore, Sariska and other Tiger zones.