Ukd BJP demands separate policy for hill states

With BJP-led NDA voted to power at the Centre in the Lok Sabha elections, the party unit in Uttarakhand plans to take up with the new regime its demand of framing a separate policy for the hill states which ensures environment conservation and development.
Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri said a separate policy is essential for states such as Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim to ensure development takes place without having any negative impact on the environment.
Khanduri said environment was a big issue in Uttarakhand and several industrial projects had been stalled due to protests by environmentalists.

A policy that strikes a balance between environment and development needs to be framed for the Himalayan states, Khanduri, who was elected as MP from the Paudi Garhwal Lok Sabha seat for the fifth time this year, said.