*Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated Wildlife Week*
*The amount of assistance for loss of life due to wildlife attacks will be increased to ₹10 lakh*
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while inaugurating Wildlife Week at Dehradun Zoo on Friday, announced that the amount of assistance for loss of life due to wildlife attacks in the state will be increased to ₹10 lakh.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that wildlife is an integral part of our faith, culture, and tradition. Our deities have also preached coexistence with them. The lion is the vehicle of Goddess Durga, the mouse is the vehicle of Lord Ganesha, the swan is the swan of Goddess Saraswati, the peacock is the peacock of Lord Kartikeya, the owl is the owl of Goddess Lakshmi, and the king of snakes, along with Nandi, sitting on the neck of Lord Mahadev, symbolize the unity between humans and the living world in our eternal culture. This is why wildlife conservation has been a natural part of India’s way of life since ancient times.
The Chief Minister stated that approximately 14.77 percent of the state’s land is protected as six national parks, seven wildlife sanctuaries, and four conservation reserves, compared to only 5.27 percent nationwide. This difference is a clear testament to the state’s environmental commitment. He added that Uttarakhand’s lush greenery and its freely roaming wildlife attract millions of tourists from both India and abroad throughout the year. Along with ensuring tourist amenities, the state government is committed to preserving the natural beauty of the forests and protecting wildlife. Chief Minister Dhami stated that, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is working to balance economy, ecology, and technology, while simultaneously conserving natural resources. The Chief Minister directed the Forest Department to identify and develop at least one new tourist destination in each district, making it accessible to tourists without altering its natural landscape. The Chief Minister stated that work is underway on a new eco-tourism model in the state, enabling people to connect with forests without harming nature.
The Chief Minister stated that the state government’s collective efforts have led to an encouraging increase in the number of rare wildlife species, such as tigers, leopards, elephants, and snow leopards. However, the challenges of human-wildlife conflict are also increasing. The government is using modern technology and scientific measures to mitigate this conflict. The Forest Department is being provided with drone and GPS technology to better monitor and protect wildlife. New livelihood opportunities are being created for local people so they can become active partners in protecting forests and wildlife.
The Chief Minister stated that the state government had pledged to create 100,000 youth as “CM Young Eco-Preneurs,” and this scheme is now bearing fruit. Under this scheme, work has progressed towards transforming skill developments such as nature guides, drone pilots, wildlife photographers, ecotourism, and wildlife tourism into enterprises. In addition, wildlife-related educational trips are now being organized for students through eco-clubs in every district of the state.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also called for a “lifestyle for the environment” from the world stage, which is not just a slogan but a mantra for saving Mother Earth. The Chief Minister appealed to all tourists visiting Uttarakhand to refrain from littering whenever they go on a jungle safari or visit any religious tourist destination.
On this occasion, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said that protecting forests and wildlife is everyone’s responsibility. He added that the state can progress only through the integration of economy, ecology, and technology.
On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sameer Sinha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife Ranjan Kumar Mishra and other officials were present.
