Government integrates forest conservation with employment opportunities: Chief Minister
- Lays foundation stone of Rs. 1.60 crore forest rest house at Sara Gadakufar in Theog
SHIMLA-5th April, 2025-Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today virtually laid the foundation stone of Forest Rest House to be constructed at Sara Gadakufar in Theog, district Shimla. The facility would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.60 crore. He said this region has immense potential for tourism and eco-tourism and large number of tourists visit Sara Gadakufar annually to witness and experience its pristine natural beauty.
He said that despite the vast tourism potential, there was no rest house facility available within a 25-kilometre radius of this area and several prominent temples were situated in the region which sans adequate accommodation for pilgrims and visitors. The Forest Rest House at Sara Gadakufar once completed would help boost to tourism and would also enhance the comfort and convenience for both domestic and tourists coming from other states.
The Chief Minister said that at present the Forest Department possesses around 450 rest houses across the state. These facilities can be utilized to promote eco-tourism efforts for sustainable tourism development of the state. He said that several eco-tourism sites were being identified and an allotment process was currently underway. As of now, seven eco-tourism sites have been allocated and the allotment process for an additional 78 sites was set to commence shortly.
Shri Sukhu said that in the past two years, afforestation activities have been carried out over 600 hectares of barren hills and slopes and local communities was actively involved in these efforts. A seven-year maintenance period has been defined for the saplings, during which locals were being engaged which would ensure employment opportunities to the locals nearer to their homes.
The government has set a target to undertake plantation activities on 5,000 hectares of forest land during the financial year 2025–26 and approximately 60 per cent of the saplings will be fruit-bearing and of other economically beneficial species, said the Chief Minister. This would not only enhance biodiversity but also help contain wildlife within forested areas and reduce human- animal conflict.
The Chief Minister said that the launch of the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana for which a provision of Rs. 100 crore has been made in the 2025–26 budget. Under this scheme youth clubs, mahila mandals and self-help groups would be encouraged to plant fruit-bearing trees on 1 to 5 hectares of barren forest land. These groups would also be responsible for maintaining the plantations over a five-year period. In the first year each group would receive financial assistance of Rs. 2.40 lakh for plantation and fencing. Thereafter, annual grants for upkeep and maintenance would also be provided to these groups. In total each participating group would receive Rs. 6.40 lakh over five years to support this initiative.
MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning the Forest Rest House for the area. He said that the State Government was consistently working to promote tourism and horticulture activities in state as well as in the area. A sum of Rs. 3.50 crore has been approved for the construction of an ice skating rink in Narkanda. Apart from this, the introduction of the Universal Carton System has played a crucial role in curbing the exploitation of apple growers. He said that the Congress Party stands united with the state government and was committed to the collective progress of the state. He said that the divisive tactics of the BJP would be resolutely countered.
Vice Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi also expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for approving the Forest Rest House project.
Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Bank Devendra Shyam, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Chief Minister's OSD Gopal Sharma and PCCF (HoFF) Sameer Rastogi were also present on the occasion.
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Cabinet decisions
SHIMLA-5th April, 2025-The State Cabinet, in its meeting held today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, decided to regularize the services of contractual employees who have completed two years of continuous service as on 31st March, 2025. It also approved the regularization of daily waged workers and contingent paid workers who have completed four years of continuous service as on the same date.
The cabinet approved the takeover of the 382 MW Sunni, 210 MW Luhri Stage-I, and 66 MW Dhaulasidh hydroelectric projects, which were earlier allotted to SJVNL, as well as the 500 MW Dugar and 180 MW Baira Suil hydroelectric projects allotted to NHPC. To facilitate the takeover of the Sunni, Luhri Stage-I, Dhaulasidh, and Dugar projects, it approved the appointment of an independent evaluator to assess the actual expenditure incurred on these projects. For the takeover of the Baira Suil project, approval was granted for the appointment of an Administrator.
It accorded sanction to establish a 50-bedded Critical Care Block (CCB) at PHC Swahan (Regional Hospital Bilaspur) along with necessary equipment and another 50-bedded CCB at Civil Hospital Rohru in Shimla district with required equipment. It also approved setting up of District Integrated Public Health Laboratories at Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, and at District Hospital Hamirpur, attached with Dr. Radha Krishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. The approval was also given for the procurement of equipment for the under-construction Mother and Child Hospital wings at Kamla Nehru Hospital Shimla, Regional Hospital Una and Civil Hospital Sundernagar in Mandi district, to ensure the smooth function of these medical institutions.
It decided to enhance the monthly stipend for Senior Residents and Tutor Specialists from the existing Rs. 60,000–65,000 to Rs. 1,00,000. Similarly, the stipend for Super Specialists and Senior Residents (Super Specialists) has been increased from Rs. 60,000–65,000 to Rs. 1,30,000 per month.
It also approved the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted for strengthening the Rogi Kalyan Samiti across the state, under the chairmanship of Health Minister Col (Dr.) Dhani Ram Shandil. The committee recommended the establishment of high-tech laboratories in all Government Medical Colleges and the provision of free diagnostic services, including all 133 lab tests and X-ray facilities, to orphans, widows and their dependent children, Ekal Nari and destitute women. With the inclusion of these new three categories, the total number of beneficiary categories eligible for free diagnostic services will increase from 11 to 14.
The Cabinet gave nod to the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Resource Mobilisation, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. The committee has proposed various measures aimed at enhancing the revenue of the state government.
The Cabinet approved the immediate re-auctioning of the remaining about 400 retail liquor vends on individual basis.
Additionally, it gave go-ahead to enter into a management service contract with EIH Ltd for the interim operation of Hotel Wildflower Hall, Mashobra, ensuring a monthly revenue of Rs. 1.77 crore for the state and safeguarding the property from deterioration until a new operator is selected through a competitive e-auction or bidding process.
To support the adoption of electric vehicles, it decided to set up 402 new EV charging stations at government premises across the state. These stations will be installed at Rest Houses, Circuit Houses, premises of the Jal Shakti and Public Works Departments, HPSEBL offices, as well as DC, SP, and BBNDA offices.
It decided to implement the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985 in the remaining Urban Local Bodies, including seven Municipal Corporations, 17 Municipal Councils, and 23 Nagar Panchayats. The move aims to prevent the defacement of public spaces by regulating the display of advertisements such as notices, pictures, or signs on buildings, walls, trees, and other public areas.
The cabinet approved to make Atal Adarsh Vidyaalay Marhi in Dharampur Constituency of Mandi district functional from the upcoming academic session 2025-26.