Khanduri pulls up Forest dept

Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri took to task the officials of the Forest Department for their failure in tapping the potential of the medicinal plants endemic to the state. The Khanduri government has been promoting the cultivation of these plants in order for them to be a substantial source of revenue for the state exchequer as well as help in the development of the far flung areas of the biodiversity-rich state.

8220;I am conveying my displeasure and anger at the way things stand. It is convenient to resort to means of smuggling than to work honestly. A man transporting things honestly is stopped by 25 forest officials. With a huge forest cover of 65 per cent, why are things not moving when the government wants to go forward,8221; he said while addressing a work shop on value addition, quality certification and marketing of medicinal plants and launch of National Mission on Medicinal Plants Scheme. He demanded an explanation of why the initiative had not taken off inspite of the government providing all the help required.