Social activist questions govt’s approval to Gupta wedding in Auli

Dehradun: Days after South Africa-based Gupta brothers — Ajay and Atul — announced to host the nuptials of their two sons in the picturesque ski resort of Auli near Joshimath in the Garhwal Himalayas, BJP leader and Dehradun-based socio-political activist Ravinder Jugran on Wednesday slammed the state government for allowing the wedding ceremony in Auli citing a high court order, which puts restriction on camping due to environmental factors.
Addressing media persons in Dehradun, Jugran said, "High court order is being kept at bay to please Gupta brothers and all rules are being bypassed to facilitate the Rs 200 crore wedding. Auli is a skiing destination and making it a wedding destination will affect the ecological sensitivity of the Himalayan region."
Jugran has also written to chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh to seek the reason behind the approvals granted to the Gupta brothers by the state government. “Has any assessment been made of the environmental harm that will be caused due to the big-splash wedding?” asked Jugran. Commenting on the issue, SDM, Joshimath, Vaibhav Gupta told TOI, “The permission for helipad and setting up tents has been given by the tourism department and Joshimath Municipal Corporation.”
Notably, while Ajay Gupta's son Suryakant’s marriage ceremony is scheduled from June 18 to 20, Atul Gupta's son Shashank will get married from June 20 to 22. TOI had earlier reported that "unprecedented arrangements" are being made for the wedding ceremony.
Almost all the hotels and resorts at Auli have been booked for the week-long festivities, for which flowers are being imported from Switzerland. Helicopters have also been hired to ferry the guests, which will include politicians, business leaders, Bollywood stars as well as other dignitaries.