450 rest houses to be used for promotion of eco-tourism: CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that there were 450 rest houses in the state and these could be utilised to promote eco-tourism. He virtually laid the foundation stone of a forest rest house to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore at Sara Gadakufar at Theog in Shimla district. “The region has vast tourism potential but there is no rest house within its 25 km radius,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that eco-tourism sites were being identified and the allotment process was currently underway. “As of now, seven eco-tourism sites have been allotted and the process for additional 78 sites is set to commence shortly,” he added.

He said that in the past two years, afforestation activities were carried out over 600 hectares of barren hills and slopes and local communities were actively involved in these efforts. “The government has set a target to undertake plantation on 5,000 hectares of forestland during 2025-26 and around 60 per cent of the saplings will be fruit-bearing and of other beneficial species,” he added.

Sukhu said that the Rs 100-crore Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana had been launched and youth clubs, mahila mandals and self-help groups would be encouraged to plant fruit-bearing saplings on one to five hectares of barren forestland. Each participating group would receive Rs 6.40 lakh over five years to support this initiative, he added.

Theog MLA Kuldeep Rathore said that the state government was working to promote tourism and horticulture in the state, including in the area. “A sum of Rs 3.50 crore has been approved for the construction of an ice-skating rink at Narkanda. Besides, the introduction of universal cartons for packaging has played a crucial role in curbing the exploitation of apple growers,” he added.

Vice-Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for approving the forest rest house project for the area.

7 sites identified

Eco-tourism sites are being identified and the allotment process is underway. As of now, seven eco-tourism sites have been allotted and the process for additional 78 sites is set to commence shortly. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister

Himachal Tribune