Eco-sensitive zone notification not to affect growth: Rawat

DEHRADUN: Union Minister for Water Resources HarishRawat today said the Centre's recent notification, declaring a vast stretch of land from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi on either side of the Bhagirathi river as an "eco-sensitive zone", will not hamper development in the area.

"I want to assure the people of Uttarakhand that the identification of the area from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi as eco-sensitive zone will in no way affect infrastructure development work in the region," Rawat told reporters at the Congress Bhawan here.

He also asked the state government to analyse in what ways the Centre's notification could affect the development projects underway there and said that he will stand by the government's decision on the issue.

Replying to a question on the proposed 600 crore Coca Cola bottling plant and Charba village in Dehradun district, Rawat said he did not know much about the project.

However, he said that investment in any part of the state should be welcomed.