Shimla, March 21 -- The Himachal Pradesh government has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to strengthen forest conservation and position tourism as a key driver of the state's economy, backed by substantial financial allocations and community participation.
Presenting the 2026-27 budget in the Assembly, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a series of initiatives aimed at boosting tourist footfall and promoting sustainable development.
Under the Rajiv Gandhi Vansamvardhan Yojana, afforestation has already been carried out across 1,100 hectares, with a target of 4,000 hectares in the next phase. The scheme will actively involve Mahila Mandals and Yuva Mandals, with an outlay of Rs 55 crore.
Around 15,000 women are expected to parti...