Presiding over the 18th meeting of the State Wildlife Board at Mantralaya on Friday, Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that use of electric vehicles in the National Parks should be considered for protection of environment and wildlife.

Nath asked for formulating a coordinated policy in view of tourism and for the people dwelling in the vicinity of the wildlife areas.

The Chief Minister directed for wider publicity of the honour of ‘Tiger State’ conferred upon the state, to boost tourism. It was decided in the meeting that a sub-committee comprising subject experts, would be set up to deliberate on conservation and development etc. of wildlife areas.

The Chief Minister said that the biggest requirement today is to work with utmost care and alertness for the development and conservation of wildlife areas. If we ignore it, we will lose this natural wealth in the times to come. Describing the residents around the National Forest Parks as the biggest safety cover, the Chief Minister said that we should work in coordination with them. This will enable us to ensure the security of these areas. Nath also asked to create awareness among the people towards the wildlife.

Nath stated that Madhya Pradesh has the honour of the state with the most tigers in the world. We should make full use of it with a view to promote tourism. He said that an international seminar in New Delhi should be organised for this purpose. An attractive presentation of the forest areas of our region should be given through the seminar. The Chief Minister directed the Forest and Tourism Department to prepare a combined proposal in this regard soon. He also directed to hold a conference on the development of national parks in Bhopal and to invite operators of all national parks in the country in it to identify future challenges and discuss possible ways to address them. The Chief Minister said that South Africa has used its forests and wildlife areas for tourism in a better manner, we should also learn from it.