28th All India Forest Sports Meet Begins In Dehradun

The 28th All India Forest Sports Meet got underway at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Raipur in Dehradun city on Wednesday with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attending the grand opening ceremony as the chief guest. State Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal, several dignitaries, and sportpersons were also present during the inaugural event.

Our correspondent reports that the Chief Minister addresing the gathering said that it was a moment of pride for Uttarakhand to host the 28th edition of the All India Forest Sports Meet. He welcomed forest officers, athletes and participants from several states and said that Uttarakhand is honoured to serve as the host of this national-level gathering.

He said that a total of three thousand three hundred and ninety athletes are participating in the meet. He added that forty two teams have reached the venue and more than seven hundred women players are competing in various categories. He wished all teams success and said that sports encourage discipline, teamwork and determination, which are essential qualities for forest personnel who guard the country’s ecological resources.

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The Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand is strengthening its sports infrastructure through a planned approach. He added that twenty three sports academies are being developed in eight cities of the state. He said that a State Sports University and a Women’s Sports College are being established to support young athletes. He added that the government offers out-of-turn appointments to medal winners at national and international events. He said that financial awards are given to outstanding players.

He said that the state announced a reward of fifty lakh for Sneha Rana, a member of the Indian women’s cricket team that recently won the World Cup. He added that Uttarakhand has become a leading state in promoting green values at sports events. He said that the state organised the thirty eighth National Games with a Green Games theme. He added that recycled material and e waste were used to prepare several items for that event.

The Chief Minister said that a sports forest has been developed on two point seven seven hectares of land. He added that more than sixteen hundred rudraksha trees have been planted and named after medal winners. He said that the site has become a symbol of sporting excellence and green awareness.

Our correspondent adds that the Chief Minister spoke about the importance of forest protection in Uttarakhand. He said that the state has seventy one percent forest cover, which makes it a major water tower and oxygen rich region for the country. He said that Uttarakhand has six national parks, seven wildlife sanctuaries and four conservation reserves which require constant care and advanced monitoring.

He added that the state has adopted modern technology for wildlife protection. He said that drone surveillance, GPS tracking and trained dog squads are used to monitor vulnerable regions. He added that the government increased compensation for victims of human and wildlife conflict from six lakh to ten lakh.

He said that the CM Young Eco Entrepreneur scheme is training youth as nature guides, drone pilots, wildlife photographers, trekking guides and eco tourism professionals. He added that these efforts support both livelihood opportunities and conservation. He said that an advanced rescue centre has been developed at Corbett which serves as a major facility for injured wildlife.

The Chief Minister said that the state has requested support from the central government for the Haldwani zoo safari project and the snow leopard conservation centre in Uttarkashi. He added that these projects will strengthen conservation and tourism.

He mentioned the national campaign titled One Tree in the Name of Mother. He urged every athlete to plant a sapling inside the stadium complex. He said that this gesture will honour mothers and support green values.

Officials said that the twenty eighth All India Forest Sports Meet will remain in progress until November sixteen. They confirmed that sporting events and cultural programmes will be held every day. They added that the meet will conclude with a closing ceremony on the final day.