Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Tuesday, requesting a “more practical approach for transferring forest land for compensatory tree plantations,” essential for construction projects.

Dhami emphasized that with 67% of the state being forest land, the Centre and its agencies face significant challenges in selecting suitable land for compensatory plantations needed for road projects.

Under the current Forest Conservation and Development Rules and Guidelines (2023), only non-forest land is eligible for compensatory plantations, complicating the process.

Additionally, the Chief Minister sought financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the Manaskhand Mala Mission project, which aims to create a circuit of 48 prominent religious sites in the Kumaon region. He also requested approval for three tunnel projects in Uttarakhand.