The state government is committed to increase the forest cover of the state for which active cooperation and support of each one was solicited, Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Thursday.

Presiding over a state level wildlife week celebration function held at Janjehli in Mandi district, he said nine month tenure of the state government had been full of achievements and the government has also succeeded in getting developmental projects worth about Rs. 9000 crores sanctioned from the Union government.

He said that not only this, the Union government had provided all possible help to the state during the recent untimely snowfall in Lahaul Spiti, where hundreds of stranded people were airlifted by seven helicopters provided by the Centre.

The Chief Minister said foundation stone of developmental projects worth Rs. 55 crore were laid which would open new vistas of progress and prosperity in the area. "The tourist culture centre to be constructed at Deemkataroo would give big boost to the tourism development in the state. The area had immense tourism potential and it would be harnessed in a planed and sustainable way," he added. He said Janjehli had been brought under eco-tourism project to develop the area as a major tourist destination.

He said that the state government would develop Chanshal in Shimla district, Bir-Billing in Kangra district and Janjehli in Mandi district from eco-tourism point of view. The bus service from Bhullar to Manali flagged off by him today would help the tourists to visit both these tourist destinations with ease.

Thakur said efforts would be made to construct the helipad of Janjehli soon to facilitate the high end tourist to visiting this beautiful place. He said that in the coming times, efforts would also be made to link Janjehli with heli taxi service.