Aimed to tap immense natural wealth of the State, the Government has come out with Jharkhand Eco-tourism Policy-2015.
The policy would facilitate the activities to develop biodiversity rich areas of the State, promote eco-tourism and also conserve wetlands that shelter migratory birds from other parts of the country and the world.
Informing about the decision, Cabinet Secretary NN Pandey said that special forest and wetland zones, national parks and sanctuaries would be selected and developed with the involvement of locals.
“There is immense potential in the State in the field of eco-tourism which needed to be developed as one of potentials. The policy would tap that potential by promoting eco-tourism in special areas, parks or sanctuaries spread across the State. With this, locals would also be educated for their conservation,” said Pandey after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Water bodies such as Udhwa, Gaitalsud, Chandil, Konar, Tilaiya, Masanjore, Maithan, Tenughat etc would be conserved as wetlands for migratory birds. The policy has defined roles of locals in not only safeguarding the sites but also earning livelihood in the process.
The Cabinet also decided to appoint high skilled professionals in all the Departments on contract basis as advisors. The professionals would suggest specifically about schemes and programme implementation related to a department. The professionals would be selected by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. Development Commissioner and Secretaries from Planning cum Finance, Personnel and from the concerned department would remain in the panel.
The Government at the same backtracked from its earlier decision to fix higher ceiling for VAT on diesel and reduced it from Rs 12.50 per liter to 8.37 per liter. “Jharkhand VAT-2005 rule has been amended. Now VAT on diesel would be 22 per cent or Rs 8.37 per liter, whichever is higher,” said the Secretary.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to take Rs 17.87 crore loan from NABARD. The money would be spent on projects related to Forest and Environment and climate control. Format of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for running ITIs as joint venture under CSR activities of private companies also got the approval. Under this, Government land would be given on lease for 30 years which can be extended mutually.
Any construction on the site can be done with the consent of the Government while expenditure coming on establishment and other activities would be borne by the private party. Representatives from the Government as well as of the company would be in the management committee.