Rishikesh. Renowned environmentalist Sundarlal Bahuguna has passed away. The 94-year-old Bahuguna was undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh since May 8 due to being infected with corona. He breathed his last on Friday. He was cremated with state honors at Poornanand Ghat in Rishikesh in the evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand Governor Babirani Maurya, Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank have expressed deep condolences on Bahuguna’s demise.
Some time ago Bahuguna had complained of fever and cough. His report on the Kovid test was positive. AIIM’s public relations officer Harish Mohan Thapliyal said that his oxygen label had started falling since last evening, after which he was put on life support in ICU. He breathed his last at around 12 noon on Friday. His sons Rajiv Nayan Bahuguna, Pradeep Bahuguna, wife Vimala Bahuguna and daughter Madhuri Pathak were present at Astpal. At three o’clock in the afternoon, his body was wrapped in a tricolor and taken to Purnanand Ghat. His sons Rajeev and Pradeep Bahuguna lit him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Babirani Maurya, Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat have expressed condolences.
Sunderlal Bahuguna, one of the biggest icons of nature and environmental protection not only in the country but in the world, gave a boost to the Chipko movement in 1972. At the same time, it inspired the country and the world to conserve forests. As a result, the echo of the Chipko movement was heard throughout the world. Bahuguna, rich in multifaceted personality, had a deep connection with rivers, forests and nature. He considered ecology as the greatest economy. This is also the reason why he favored small projects to meet the power requirement in Uttarakhand. That is why he was not in favor of big projects like Tehri Dam. With this, he started a massive movement and raised awareness.
His slogan was – ‘Dhar Ench Dala, Bijli Banava Khala – Khala’. That is, plant trees in high altitude areas and make electricity from small projects in low places. Adopting the simple idea of simple life, he continued to campaign for the protection of nature, rivers and forests throughout his life. Bahuguna was the one who taught the difference between good and bad plants.
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