Dehradun: A high-powered committee meeting on eco-tourism under the Forest Department was held at the Secretariat on Monday, chaired by Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan. The Chief Secretary said that since a major part of the state is covered with forests, there are immense possibilities for eco-tourism in the state. He said that while exploring the possibilities of eco-tourism, such spots should be identified and developed that create an ecosystem conducive to eco-tourism.
The Chief Secretary directed the preparation of a policy for trekking and mountaineering. He said that an integrated policy for trekking and mountaineering should be finalized and submitted to the government by January 15. He said that before preparing the policy, discussions should be held with private stakeholders to avoid practical problems that may arise after the policy is formulated. The Chief Secretary directed that work should be done towards opening new peaks for trekking. He said that all necessary formalities, including environmental audits, should be completed for this. He also said that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for this should be issued soon.
The Chief Secretary directed that the renovation work of Chaurasi Kutiya should be completed soon. He asked the implementing agency to set timelines for all the tasks to ensure timely completion. He said that targets should be given to the implementing agency so that the work can be completed on time. The Chief Secretary said that the Jabarkhet model for eco-tourism should also be implemented at other identified eco-tourism sites. He said that Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) should be given tasks to promote eco-tourism in their respective areas to ensure timely completion of these projects. He directed that the plan for 10 identified sites should be prepared and sent to the government within a month.
The Chief Secretary said that a mechanism should be prepared for conducting tourism activities within the forest area. He said that the responsibility for their operation can be given to the Eco-Tourism Development Board. He said that the board was constituted for this very purpose. He also spoke about strengthening the Eco-Tourism Development Board, increasing manpower, and making provisions in the budget for this purpose. He also instructed the Additional Secretary of Forests to open a new head for the ETDB so that grants could be provided to the ETDB, similar to the UTDB. An MoU will also be signed soon for the operation of eco-tourism sites through the Eco-Tourism Development Board.
The Chief Secretary also said that a meeting of the high-powered committee related to eco-tourism should be held every month. He also instructed that formal training programs for tourism be started across the state. He said that certificates should also be provided after the training. He said that the certification needs to be anchored in one place. He said that the Tourism Department should be given the responsibility for training certification. He said that suggestions should also be taken from the Higher Education Department for this. On this occasion, Secretary Dipendra Kumar Chaudhary, PCCF Ranjan Kumar Mishra, CCF Eco-Tourism P.K. Patro and Additional Secretary Himanshu Khurana, along with other officers, were present.
