Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Launches 75th State-Level Van Mahotsav in Shimla

Shimla, July 30 2024 : Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the 75th State-level Van Mahotsav by planting an oak sapling at his official residence, Oak Over, in Shimla. During the event, he announced the Forest Department’s ambitious plan to plant saplings across 9,000 hectares in Himachal Pradesh this year.

In a significant policy shift, Chief Minister Sukhu unveiled a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling unattended dry and salvage trees. The SOP allows for the removal of up to two trees at the forest guard level and up to 25 trees at the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) level. Furthermore, powers have been delegated to DFOs and officers of the State Forest Development Corporation to expedite tree removal following the first phase approval of the Forest Conservation Act, especially for linear infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister also introduced beta testing of the e-forest software, a digital initiative designed to streamline departmental operations and enhance transparency within the Forest Department. He stressed the importance of increasing the proportion of fruit tree plantations in forest areas from 30% to 60%, with positive outcomes anticipated within the next decade.

Highlighting the financial benefits of forestry reforms, Sukhu noted that the Forest Department and Corporation processed 15,000 salvage trees last year. This activity significantly boosted timber sales revenue, doubling the state government’s royalty income from ₹35 crore to ₹70 crore in just 18 months.

The Chief Minister’s initiatives underscore a commitment to environmental sustainability and economic growth through forestry reforms and technological advancements.