The Hindu : Himachal CM call to guard forests

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2004

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Himachal CM call to guard forests

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA JAN.6. The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, has stressed the need for preserving the forest wealth to safeguard the environment, which is so necessary for human survival. He was addressing a public meeting at Shekhal in Rohru area of Shimla district after inaugurating the 3.75-km Samoli-Dhara-Shekhal road, built at a cost of Rs. 32 lakhs.

Mr. Singh said the decision to ban felling of trees in the past had yielded results and about 1600 sq. km additional area had come under green cover. Besides meeting the fodder and fuel needs of the local people forests also helped in maintaining the water table.

The Chief Minister said construction of roads had always remained their priority, keeping in view the role these play in the development of the rural economy. Besides farming, people should also look for alternate vocations like milk production and handicraft and handlooms so as to improve their economic status.

He announced that a bulk cooler would be set up in Rohru area so as to benefit those engaged in milk production. This would go a long way in raising the income of the women folk who generally are engaged in rearing milch cattle.

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Himachal CM call to guard forests