Demand for separate Ravain district gathers pace in Purola rally

Uttarkashi: The demand for a separate Ravain district intensified on Monday as residents, public representatives and social activists held a rally in Purola town, urging govt to announce a new district for the region. The protesters said difficult terrain and distance from the Uttarkashi district headquarters made even routine official work difficult for people in Ravain.The rally, led by Ravain Separate District Struggle Committee convenor Prakash Kumar and president Baldev Aswal, started from the sports ground and passed through Kumola Road, Mori Road and the main market before reaching the Tehsil premises. Protesters raised slogans in support of the separate district demand and later submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister through tehsildar Kamal Singh Rathore.In the memorandum, committee members said Ravain had long suffered because of geographical, administrative and developmental neglect. “People face difficulties in reaching Uttarkashi district headquarters even for small official work, and the region needs a separate district for better administration and faster development,” they said.The committee demanded that the Mori, Purola and Naugaon development blocks be included in the proposed Ravain district. Protesters said a new district would speed up work related to education, healthcare, roads, drinking water and other basic facilities. “If govt does not take a positive decision soon, the movement will be intensified further,” the agitators said.Several local leaders and residents, including Congress district president Dinesh Singh Chauhan, former MLA Malchand, municipal chairman Bihari Lal Shah, Shweta Rajkumar, Gopal Singh Chauhan, Ankit Panwar, Surendra Devjani, Jagmohan Naudiyal, Ammichand Shah and Dinesh Chauhan, attended the rally.