Chief Secretary Dr. S.S. Sandhu took a meeting with all the District Magistrates through video conferencing regarding the promotion of eco-tourism and herbs in the state in his auditorium located at the Secretariat. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that due to more than 70 percent forest area in the state, forests can become an important resource for the state’s economy. He said that there is a need to link forests with economy in the state. We can play an important role in creating employment and improving the economy in the state through eco-tourism and herbs obtained from them without harming the forests and environment.
The Chief Secretary said that committees have been constituted at the state level under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and at the district level under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate to promote herbs like eco-tourism. He said that herbal villages should be established in every district, wherever possible. He directed that proposals should be prepared in all the districts exploring the possibilities of herbs in the forest areas. By establishing dialogue with the stakeholders, work should be done on the problems coming in this work and their solution. In this, efforts should be made to increase the production of herbs by 100 times or even more by involving forest panchayats, self-help groups and local people.
The Chief Secretary said that there is a need for simplification of Ravanna system for herbs. For this, it will soon be linked with the National Transit Pass of the Central Government. He said that arrangements should be made for the training of laborers for the production and cultivation of herbs. For this, he also gave instructions to simplify the earlier mandates, so that the tasks could be simplified. He said that at the same time the financial and other powers of district level committees will be increased.
Along with this, the Chief Secretary also discussed with the remaining districts in the last meeting related to eco-tourism. He said that employment can be created by promoting eco-tourism and herbs obtained from forests. He described Rudraprayag and Haridwar districts as very promising from the point of view of eco-tourism. Said that due to bad weather or excessive crowd in Kedarnath, the pilgrims have to stay for a long time. In such a situation, small eco-tourist destinations to be developed around these travel routes can prove to be very helpful. He said that similarly in Haridwar, eco-tourism and herbal park in the surrounding area can attract tourists and pilgrims, which will provide employment to the people engaged in the surrounding areas.
Seeing the presentation of eco-tourism and trekking circuit ‘Thadiyar March’ made in Chakrata Forest Division, the Chief Secretary talked about developing such circuits in other districts on the same lines.
On this occasion, Principal Secretary R. Of. Sudhanshu and Secretary Dr. B. we are. High officials of concerned departments and district magistrates were present along with C. Purushottam.
