Two modern processing units of Forest Corporation to be built in Nurpur and Nachan: Pathania

Dharamshala: The 208th Board of Directors meeting of State Forest Corporation Limited was held at Dharamshala today under the chairmanship of Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania. On this occasion, the Forest Minister has given consent for diversification of other activities including leasing of forest land for mining, emphasis on eco-tourism and several other important decisions to improve the profitability of State Forest Development Corporation Limited. Along with this, a proposal to give a bonus of 20 lakh rupees to employees of State Forest Development Corporation Limited was also approved.
Pathania while talking to the media said that new products from forest like floor tiles, wall paneling will be set  by the corporation to increase the income of Forest Corporation.. For this, two modern processing units will be set at Nurpur and Nachan. He  added that apart from this, the solar power  plants shall be set up by the corporation  in the state at a height of more than 7 thousand feet where there are less number of trees. He said that the income of the Forest Corporation will be increased by selling the power generated at such plants to the State Electricity Board.

Talking about the forest department the minister said, “sandalwood and herb-based excellence centre will be developed in Kuthed of Jawali sub-division of Kangra district, for which directions have been given to forest department officials to prepare a plan. The Forest Department has already  marked the land  for this excellence centre.”

He said that the government has decided to increase the yield of sandalwood and herbs, it has immense employment potential and the climate of the lower regions of Himachal is also suitable for it. He said that the services of forestry experts would also be taken to develop this  excellence center for sandalwood and herbs. Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania said, “ people are also being provided self-employment opportunities through afforestation activities. The Van Samruddhi Jan Samridhi Yojana has been started with the objective of creating employment opportunities by selling wild herbs and also promoting their production on private land.”