Tawang
Chief Minister Pema Khandu today inaugurated the Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) here, established and managed by forest department.
Addressing a formal function, the Chief Minister said the objective of this centre is to help people develop a better understanding of nature and said that development of the area should not result in upsetting the ecological balance. It is of paramount importance that development should be low-impact and not result destruction of nature, he added.
Thanking the forest department for the initiative, the Chief Minister suggested such NIC centers must be spread in other districts too where there are huge forest covers. Such centers will sensitize people about nature conservation and help them admire its beauty and other benefits of nature. He further asked the department to identify more areas for development of similar forest parks in the town.
To meet the manpower shortage, the Chief Minister directed the department to send a proposal to be cleared immediately in the cabinet. He further informed that the state government has created several posts for tiger protection force, which will be recruited from unemployed local youths.
The Chief Minister also directed the department to develop its 32 forest guesthouses for development of tourism and suggested both the department to work together on this matter.
Earlier the Chief Minister visited the NIC exhibition centre that has information display on wild flora-fauna and wetlands of Tawang district supplemented by audio-visuals facilities. The centre has also sections on wildlife, rhododendron species, flora, high-altitude lakes and Monpa culture.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the forest park – ‘Nature Walk’, a facility developed adjacent to the NIC for visitors to learn about trees, shrubs, flora and fauna of the region. He suggested the department to also have facilities for bird watching by planting fruit bearing trees to attract birds.
RWD Parliamentary Secretary Jambey Tashi, local MLA Tsering Tashi, PCCF Omkar Singh also spoke on the occasion.
Abbot of Tawang Monastery Tulku Gongkar Rinpoche, Brigadier MP Singh and others also attended the inaugural function.
