Development work should not be limited to papers, it should be visible on the ground: Dhami

The Chief Minister reviewed the game changer schemes of the Forest and Energy Department

More effective efforts should be made to conserve forests and increase revenue from forest wealth
Special attention should be given to the modernization of the guest house of the Forest Department: Chief Minister
Dehradun. Along with the conservation of forests, more effective efforts should be made to increase revenue from forest wealth. Special attention should be paid to the modernization of the guest house of the Forest Department. More possibilities should be explored for work in the field of herbs, cultivation and marketing. Effective measures should be taken to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Special attention should be paid to forest fire management, biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism. These instructions were given by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to the officials during the review of the game changer schemes of the Forest Department in the Secretariat on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister said that along with better use of forest wealth, direct and indirect employment should be promoted. In view of summer, a strategy should be made with an effective action plan to prevent forest fire. It should be ensured that such efforts are not limited to papers only, but are visible on the ground. To prevent incidents of human-wildlife conflict, the best practices of other states should be studied and a better action plan should be made for this in the state.

It was informed in the meeting that under eco tourism, special attention is being given to the development of eco camping infrastructure, restoration of old forest rest houses, various activities for local youth such as training of nature guides and capacity development programs. A website dedicated to eco tourism will be created. Till now, the eco tourism sector operating in various areas has generated an income of about Rs 5 crore to local youth, Rs 17 crore from gypsy operation and Rs 30 lakh to self-help groups.

Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal, Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vice President Vishwas Dabur, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Chief Forest Conservator Dr. Dhananjay Mohan, Additional Secretary Ranjana Rajguru, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Managing Director Sandeep Singhal, UPCL Managing Director Anil Kumar, Pitkul Managing Director PC Dhyani and related officials were present in the meeting.

Work should be done rapidly towards increasing energy production in the state

Dehradun. During the review of the Energy Department, the Chief Minister also directed that work should be done rapidly towards increasing energy production in the state. Special attention should be given to small hydro power projects. He said that the main concept of Uttarakhand state was energy and tourism state.

The work of undergrounding of power lines in urban areas should be completed before the onset of rainy season. The work of covering government buildings with solar roof top should be completed soon. An effective action plan should be made to use the assets of UJVNL, UPCL which are not in use.

It was informed in the meeting that as per the revised hydropower policy in 2023, 8 projects of total 160.80 MW have been approved under one time amnesty. These projects will be completed by 2030 at a cost of 1790 crores. Along with this, 6 projects of 121 MW have been approved. UGVNL will start the work of 03 pump storages from 2028 and complete it in 2031. These three pump storages costing around 5660 crores include Ichhari, Lakhwar-Vyasi and Vyasi-Katapathar projects.