Remove permanent structures from meadows, grasslands: HC to U'khand govt

The Uttarakhand High Court today directed the state government to remove all permanent structures from the alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows and grasslands of the state within three months.

Quoting a verse from a revered Sikh scripture according to which air, water, earth and sky are the God's abode, the division bench of Justices Rajiv Sharma and Lokpal Singh ordered the state government to remove all permanent structures from alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows and grasslands of the state including Aali-Bedini-Bagzi Bugyals (grasslands) within a period of three months.

The state government was also asked by the high court to constitute eco-development committees within six weeks in eco-sensitive zones to protect and preserve nature, environment and ecology.

Quoting the Guru Granth Saheb which says, "Pavan paani dharati aakas ghar mandar har bani", (Air, water, earth and sky are God's home and temple), the bench put a cap of a maximum of 200 tourists visiting the alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows, and bugyals (grasslands) with a complete ban on night stays.

Further no construction whatsoever is to be done on such sites, it said.

The commercial grazing of cattle is banned on alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows and bugyals forthwith, it said.

The local shepherds alone will be permitted to graze their cattle within reasonable restriction on the number of cattle.

All the district magistrates across Uttarakhand are directed to ensure removal of plastic water bottles, cans etc. from the alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows and bugyals within six weeks from today, the high court said.