PrashantNews
Six years after facing the wrath of the opposition on his appointment in the Jal sansthan, Piyush Agarwal, son the Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prem Chand Agarwal, is under scanner again for cutting khair trees without permission for the construction of a resort in Pauri district.
Under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, a case has been registered against Piyush Agarwal by the forest department for cutting two khair trees which are protected species. A total of 26 trees were cut at Khairkhal area near Neelkanth temple in Pauri district. Out of the 26 trees, two belong to khair protected species.
State Forest Minister Subodh Unniyal has ordered an inquiry into the cutting trees.
On the other hand, Piyush Agarwal defended the decision to cut khair trees saying he has taken prior permission from the concerned revenue officials. In case of any violation, Agarwal said he was ready to pay penalty.
In 2018, Agarwal had resigned from the post of assistant engineer in Jal Sansthan after his father faced severe criticism from the opposition parties for allegedly helping his son to get the job through ex-army quota. At that time, Agarwal was the state assembly Speaker. Actually, Piyush Agarwal had got the job of assistant engineer through Uttarakhand Poorv Sainik Kalayan Nigam Limited (UPNL), an organization set for the welfare of the ex-servicemen.
State Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana slammed the cabinet minister Agarwal and his son for cutting the khair trees in violation of the laws of the land. “We are seeking the resignation of Prem Chand Agarwal and asking the Chief Minister to drop him from the cabinet as he is always in news for bad reasons. First his son got entry into Jal Sansthan through backdoor. And now, this son is felling trees illegally,” said Dhasmana.
Prem chandra agarwal has always been in limelight for wrong doings, be it son’s job or beating common man in the Street, he should check his action and doesn’t create trouble for cm, in running the govt.