S Gopal Puri
Shimla: — Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu amid the PM’s visit to Kangra, where Sukhu raised a pressing concern: Himachal Pradesh’s unusually high forest cover is hampering development.
Sukhu noted that approximately 68 per cent of the state’s land is classified as forest, significantly limiting space available for essential infrastructure and rehabilitation efforts.
Given this constraint, Sukhu urged the Centre to approve the allocation of one bigha of forest land per disaster-affected family, facilitating effective resettlement in the wake of recent floods and landslides.
He emphasized that state resources are becoming increasingly stretched, especially for rehabilitation, due to delayed central aid.
Sukhu also highlighted his administration’s ambitious ₹3,000 crore World Bank-led project proposal aimed at comprehensive disaster recovery and rebuilding initiatives—awaiting approval.
On another front, the Chief Minister pointed out progress on development projects that had long stalled. During his tenure, the state secured Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearance for 66 key projects, spanning sectors like education, water supply, and infrastructure.
He called for fast-tracking additional FCA and Forest Rights Act (FRA) approvals, particularly for hydropower and tourism infrastructure, and stressed that officers responsible for delays must be held accountable.
Sukhu appealed to BJP MPs from Himachal to make a concerted push for these forest land allocations and support the state’s broader development agenda.
