Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired two high-level meetings to review eco-tourism promotion by the Forest Department and the commercial cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) across Jammu and Kashmir.

In the eco-tourism meeting, attended by senior forest officials, the Chief Secretary stressed a comprehensive approach to develop destinations offering multiple tourism options. The role of the Forest Development Corporation in strengthening infrastructure and services was discussed, with successful models from Punjab, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu considered for replication.
Forest officials outlined a roadmap including selection of eco-tourism sites, development of eco-friendly camping infrastructure, capacity building through Master Trainers, and engagement of professional service providers to ensure quality hospitality. The initiative aims to generate employment for rural and forest-dependent communities while promoting sustainable tourism and conserving local culture.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary also launched the trilingual mobile app ‘e-Bahak’ for online grazing permissions for nomadic pastoral communities, featuring a digital payment gateway, weather alerts, and guidance systems.
In a separate meeting on MAP cultivation, the Chief Secretary called for a clear vision plan developed in consultation with market stakeholders. Commercial cultivation will begin with locally suitable MAP varieties, with gradual diversification following scientific packages of practices. Collaboration with research institutions such as SKUAST and CSIR-IIIM was emphasised, along with time-bound milestones, processing facilities, and knowledge dissemination.
Officials highlighted prioritising MAP varieties unique to J&K, connecting growers directly with buyers, and leveraging institutional support to ensure sustainability and competitiveness. Vice Chancellors and CSIR-IIIM representatives outlined ongoing research, infrastructure capabilities, and revival techniques through tissue culture. The implementation framework was detailed, defining roles for Forest and Agriculture Departments alongside research institutions.