Himachal Pradesh: Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani on Saturday said the state government is committed to sustainable development under its Green Himachal vision and is working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He chaired the North Zone Conference organised by the Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI) on the theme “Planning Strategies for Planned Development of Hill Areas”. Dharmani said the towns and cities of the state have undergone significant changes over time. He said the unique geographical location of Himachal Pradesh makes it highly vulnerable to natural disasters, necessitating a well-planned approach to urbanisation. The minister said the government is actively promoting eco-tourism to promote sustainable tourism, which will create employment and self-employment opportunities.
He said an eco-tourism society has been set up to oversee the management of eco-tourism sites, with a target to generate additional revenue of about Rs 200 crore in the next five years. He said technocrats and planners play a vital role in nation building and the state government is working to promote talent in this field. Dharmani said to make Himachal Pradesh a green energy state, the government is expanding the use of electric vehicles and exploring options for air travel and ropeway connectivity. On the occasion, the minister unveiled various ITPI publications including the book Making Hilly Areas Great Places to Live written by Jeet Kumar Gupta.
