Environmentalists’ vote to takers of ‘green manifesto’

Dehradun: In Uttarakhand, where more than 70% of the geographical area is under forest cover and where environmental disasters claim hundreds of lives every year, no political party in fray for the assembly election has included environmental issues in its manifesto, say activists. So this time, a group of environmentalists has come up with a “green manifesto”, which will have suggestions from experts, scientists, academics, retired bureaucrats and residents, and said that any party that takes it up will get their votes.
The measures listed in the manifesto include geo-tagging of trees to save them from illegal felling, giving heritage status to trees that are over 70 years old and ensuring rainwater harvesting.