Former CM Harish Rawat to sit in dharna in Rudrapur today

Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat has opposed large-scale demolition at Rudrapur, Udham Singh Nagar.

Harish Rawat, in a statement issued here today, said he would stage a dharna at Ambedkar Park, Rudrapur, tomorrow against the demolition drive and delay in the release of payments to sugarcane farmers. He said there was no point in undertaking a demolition exercise when several bypasses had been sanctioned for crowded places in Rudrapur, Gadarpur and other adjoining places.

He said construction work on bypasses had already started. The former Chief Minister also demanded a compensation for the victims. Harish Rawat has also opposed the closure of the Sitarganj sugar mill in Udham Singh Nagar district without prior information. He said this had left Sitarganj sugarcane growers in a lurch.