Dehradun, Apr 3: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has urged the centre to set up at least 6 CNG stations in the state and increase the foodgrain quota.
In a letter to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Jaipal Reddy, Bahuguna said at least six CNG stations should be established in the fast growing cities of Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Haldwani, Kashipur and Rudrapur in the first phase. Currently, there is no CNG station in the state, said an official release here.
Expressing concern over the degradation of the environment due to the growing number of vehicles, Bahuguna said it was adversely affecting the forest and wildlife of the state, which is a major attraction for tourists.
In this regard, he pointed out that visit of tourists also provides foreign exchange to the state and employment opportunities to local people.
The CNG-powered vehicles would prove effective in controlling the problem of environment degradation, Bahuguna said.
The CM has also written a letter to Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas urging him to allocate 22,570 MT of wheat and 16,928 MT of rice per month in view of the present population of the state.
He has stated that as per the latest census of 2011, the state's population has grown to over 1 crore during the last one decade from nearly 76 lakh in 2001.
In this regard, the CM said the existing quota of wheat was falling short by 767 MT and rice by 13,496 MT and this shortage is adversely affecting the interests of the Above Poverty Line (APL) ration card holders.
In his letter, he has also urged the centre to take into consideration the standard being followed in mother state of Uttar Pradesh and also the geographical conditions of Uttarakhand while allocating the foodgrains quota.
Latest India News
