Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired two high-level meetings to review initiatives for promoting eco-tourism and commercial cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) across Jammu & Kashmir.

In the eco-tourism meeting, attended by senior Forest Department officials, the Chief Secretary emphasised a comprehensive approach to identify destinations offering multiple eco-tourism options. The role of the Forest Development Corporation in developing infrastructure and services was highlighted, along with successful models from Punjab, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu for possible replication in J&K.
The roadmap includes selecting eco-tourism sites, developing environmentally compliant camping facilities, building capacity through Master Trainers, and outsourcing hospitality services to ensure quality standards. The initiative aims to generate employment, particularly for rural and forest-dependent communities, while preserving local culture and promoting sustainable tourism.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary also launched the mobile app ‘e-Bahak’ for online grazing permissions for nomadic pastoral communities. The trilingual app features a payment gateway, weather alerts, and guidance systems to facilitate ease of use.
In the MAP cultivation meeting, the Chief Secretary directed a phased approach, starting with locally suitable MAP varieties and gradually expanding. Collaboration with research institutions such as SKUAST and CSIR-IIIM Jammu was emphasised for scientific practices, processing facilities, and dissemination of expertise.
Officials highlighted that farmer profitability should be central to the strategy. Focus was also placed on MAP varieties unique to J&K, direct market linkages, and upgrading research infrastructure. Roles and responsibilities of the Forest and Agriculture Departments, along with research institutions, were outlined for effective implementation.
These initiatives aim to strengthen sustainable tourism and boost the socio-economic development of local communities while leveraging J&K’s natural and medicinal resources.