Leh, March 14: Chief Secretary of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, chaired a meeting to review a proposal for the constitution and registration of Tourism Societies and Wildlife Societies in the Union Territory, aimed at strengthening environmental management and sustainable tourism practices.
During the meeting, Mandeep Mittal, an officer of the Indian Forest Service (IFS), presented a detailed framework outlining the objectives, governing structure and operational mechanisms of the proposed societies.
The presentation covered key aspects including the composition of governing bodies and executive committees, proposals for the levy of a green fee, revision of entry and permit fees, and mechanisms for efficient fee collection and management.
While reviewing the proposal, Kundra emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the formation of the societies. He suggested that members of the governing bodies should be identified individually by name to ensure effective participation and responsibility.
The Chief Secretary also recommended including representatives from the private sector, noting that their involvement could strengthen decision-making and enhance outcomes through initiatives such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Discussions were also held on wildlife fee deposits and the need to introduce flexibility in the collection system. Various options for collecting the proposed green fee were deliberated upon, including a uniform fee collection mechanism through petrol pumps or other accessible channels, while also considering traditional methods currently in use.
Kundra stressed that the societies must be financially sustainable and aligned with their intended objectives. He highlighted the importance of establishing a suitable corpus fund under relevant legal provisions and ensuring that funding sources are clearly defined to support their activities.
The meeting also reviewed the potential utilisation of funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to support the initiatives of the proposed societies.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Lalinthakhuma Franklin, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Rajesh S Kumar, Secretary Tourism Sanjit Rodrigues, Secretary Law and Justice Qureshi Tariq Mehmood, Joint Director Finance Kaneez Fatima, along with other senior officials from concerned departments.
Chief Secretary Pushes Transparent Framework for Tourism Societies
