Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that seven eco-tourism sites have already been allocated in Himachal Pradesh, and the allotment process for an additional 78 sites is set to begin soon. He said this move would significantly contribute to the sustainable development of tourism in the state.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while virtually laying the foundation stone for a new Forest Rest House to be constructed at Sara Gadakufar in Theog, located in Shimla district. The rest house will be built at an estimated cost of ₹1.60 crore and aims to provide better accommodation options for tourists and pilgrims visiting the region.
Highlighting the untapped potential of Sara Gadakufar, the Chief Minister said the area attracts a significant number of tourists every year due to its untouched natural beauty.
However, he noted that there is currently no rest house facility available within a 25-kilometre radius, despite the presence of several important temples in the region. The construction of the new rest house is expected to improve both accessibility and comfort for visitors, promoting tourism in a more sustainable and structured way.
He also shared that the Forest Department currently owns around 450 rest houses across the state, which could be strategically used to strengthen eco-tourism initiatives. Over the past two years, afforestation work has been undertaken on over 600 hectares of barren hills and slopes, involving active participation from local communities.
A seven-year maintenance plan has been established for the saplings, creating long-term employment opportunities for local residents close to their homes.
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Looking ahead, the government has set an ambitious target to carry out plantation drives on 5,000 hectares of forest land in the financial year 2025–26. About 60 percent of the saplings will consist of fruit-bearing or other economically beneficial species.
This initiative is expected to enhance biodiversity, help confine wildlife within forest areas, and reduce incidents of human-animal conflict.
The Chief Minister also introduced the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, for which ₹100 crore has been earmarked in the 2025–26 budget.
Under this scheme, youth clubs, mahila mandals, and self-help groups will be encouraged to plant fruit-bearing trees on 1 to 5 hectares of barren forest land. These groups will be responsible for maintaining the plantations over a five-year period. Each group will receive ₹2.40 lakh in the first year for plantation and fencing activities.
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Over the course of five years, the total financial support will amount to ₹6.40 lakh per group, including annual grants for maintenance.
Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore praised the state government’s continuous efforts to promote tourism and horticulture in the region. He mentioned that ₹3.50 crore has been approved for the construction of an ice skating rink in Narkanda.
He also highlighted the benefits of the Universal Carton System in protecting apple growers from exploitation. Rathore reaffirmed the Congress Party’s support for the state government and condemned the divisive politics of the BJP.
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.
The event was also attended by Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Bank Devendra Shyam, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, the Chief Minister's OSD Gopal Sharma, and PCCF (HoFF) Sameer Rastogi.
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