CHANDIGARH: The Minister of State for Tourism, Forests and Environment, Kiran Choudhry Saturday visited Tigerland and Matidotani area of Sundervan National Park in West Bengal to examine the area for promotion of eco-tourism in the state.
       

Choudhry said that the aim of this visit was to study how to promote eco-tourism without affecting the wild life. She said that last year also she had visited Madhya Pradesh alongwith her team to study Bandogarh National Park.

The Forests Minister claimed that efforts were being made to conserve the environment and maintain ecological balance in the state. In the series of important decisions taken in this direction, efforts were being made for the conservation of forests. As a result, the forest area had increased now to 7.1 per cent from 6.3 per cent of last year as per the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. All out efforts would be made to achieve the target of increasing it to 10 per cent by 2010.  Choudhry said that Forests Department was also contributing for Women Empowerment. As many as 1700 Forest Committees had been constituted so far besides 1100 Women Self-help Groups which were proving to be the milestones to uplift their socio and economic status. Haryana Government had decided to hand over the nurseries of Forests Department to women so that they could raise their income.

The Forest Minister stated that without the cooperation of public no scheme could be implemented successfully. To encourage the children's interest in the conservation of forests, 20 schools of each district had been asked for plantation and maintenance of roads.