Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, during the 21st meeting of the Wildlife Board at the Secretariat, directed forest department officials to make special efforts not only for forest conservation but also to link forest resources with people’s livelihoods.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to promote eco-tourism activities around forest areas by preparing a detailed plan for the next 10 years that balances ecology and economy. He also directed the implementation of a digital tracking system to reduce human-wildlife conflict incidents and ensure quick compensation distribution in such cases.
In the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed that construction work on the zoo and safari in Haldwani be expedited. He said that the maintenance of forest rest houses should be improved keeping in mind tourist facilities, with efforts made to increase revenue. He also gave directions to speed up the restoration work at Chaurasi Kutia. Stressing innovation, he said that since Uttarakhand is a forest-rich state, efforts should be made to link forest resources with the economy. He suggested that the Forest and Finance Departments hold a joint meeting to explore this, and special efforts should be made for the conservation of Mahseer fish.
In the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, approvals were given for 25 proposals related to forest land transfer and other matters within protected areas and within a 10 km radius of such areas. These proposals will be sent to the National Wildlife Board. The meeting also gave in-principle approval to operate the Rudranath Yatra route through the EDC (Eco Development Committee) and to establish a mini transit treatment center in the Kedarnath Wildlife Division, Gopeshwar.
It was informed in the meeting that since the 20th board meeting, the National Wildlife Board has approved 22 important projects from Uttarakhand. Additionally, in the past three years, over 75,000 monkeys have been sterilized. This year, the target is to sterilize 40,000 monkeys across 27 forest divisions. Forest officials reported that following the Chief Minister’s previous instructions, divisional forest officers are promptly reaching the site of human-wildlife conflict incidents and providing immediate financial assistance to the affected families. In the financial year 2024–25, a total of ₹19.55 crore in compensation has been distributed. It was also reported that four new eco-tourism zones have been launched in the state in 2024.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said that Uttarakhand is an important state in terms of biodiversity. There is a continuous need to work towards the proper use of forest resources and linking them with livelihoods. He emphasized the need to develop new destinations.
MLAs Banshidhar Bhagat and Diwan Singh Bisht, Principal Secretary (Forests) R.K. Sudhanshu, Director General of Police Deepam Seth, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Dhananjay Mohan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) R.K. Mishra, Secretary B.V.R.C. Purushottam, Neeraj Kharwal, and officials from concerned departments were present at the meeting.
