Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu virtually laid the foundation stone of a new Forest Rest House at Sara Gadakufar in Theog, district Shimla. The eco-friendly facility will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.60 crore and is set to enhance tourism infrastructure in the region.
Located in an area known for its natural beauty, Sara Gadakufar attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims each year. However, there has been no rest house facility within a 25-kilometre radius. The upcoming Forest Rest House will serve as a much-needed accommodation option and significantly boost tourism and eco-tourism in the region.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the Forest Department currently manages over 450 rest houses across Himachal Pradesh. These can be vital assets in promoting sustainable tourism through eco-tourism initiatives. So far, seven eco-tourism sites have been allocated, with 78 more to be allotted soon.
He also shared that in the last two years, afforestation drives have been conducted on over 600 hectares of barren land. Local communities have been actively engaged in these projects, with a seven-year maintenance period ensuring ongoing employment and care for the planted saplings.
A target of 5,000 hectares of plantation has been set for the financial year 2025–26. Around 60 percent of the saplings will be fruit-bearing or economically beneficial species. This will not only improve biodiversity but also reduce human-wildlife conflict by retaining animals in forest zones.
The Chief Minister also announced the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana with a budget of Rs. 100 crore for 2025–26. Under this initiative, youth clubs, mahila mandals and self-help groups will plant fruit-bearing trees on 1 to 5 hectares of barren forest land. Each group will receive Rs. 2.40 lakh in the first year and a total of Rs. 6.40 lakh over five years for maintenance and support.
MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore expressed his gratitude for the project and informed that Rs. 3.50 crore has also been sanctioned for an ice skating rink in Narkanda. He also highlighted the success of the Universal Carton System, which has safeguarded the interests of apple growers in the region.
