Haryana to set up herbal park in each district

Chandigarh, Mar 7 (UNI) The Haryana government has decided to set up eight more herbal parks in the state during 2008-09 to create awareness about cultivation of medicinal plants.

This was stated by Governor A R Kidwai while addressing the State Legislative Assembly on the opening day of the Budget Session here today.

Dr Kidwai said that already 20 herbal parks had been established in the state and the government had decided to establish one herbal park in each district.

Ecotourism was receiving special attention in the state and 5000 eco-clubs had been set up for creating awareness under the National Green Corps Scheme.

The Governor said the State Forest Policy envisaged bringing 10 per cent of geographical area under forest and tree cover by 2010 and eventually 20 per cent in a phased manner.

'' This is sought to achieve through afforestation on Panchayat, community, institutional, farm and other public and private wastelands,'' he said.

During 2007-08, over 15,000 hectares was likely to be brought under plantation.

He said that tourism continues to be a priority of the government. This had been well brought out in the state tourism policy, 2008 recently notified.

''The policy acknowledges the role of the private sector in tourism promotion with Government acting as a facilitator. One of the highlights of the policy is to provide leasing of Tourism projects on short term basis upto 11 years and on long term basis upto 33 years, in the public private partnership mode,'' he added.

The Panipat-Kurukshetra-Pinjore belt was being developed as an integrated tourist circuit with Central assistance of over Rs 16 crore. The state government had also received Central assistance of more than Rs 21 crore for developing Morni, Sultanpur, Dharuhera and Hodel tourist areas.

The State Government has also decided to set up two institutes of hotel management and training at Tilyar Lake (Rohtak) and Badkhal Lake (Faridabad) in collaboration with the private sector.

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