In a bid to improve the livelihoods of the people of Tripura, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday underscored the importance of creating sustainable assets as part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project. During the meeting, the Chief Minister, along with concerned officials, reviewed the current status, progress, and future plans of the JICA project.
Dr. Saha urged the officials involved to expedite the work under the JICA project, emphasizing the need for swift delivery of benefits to the state’s residents. Present at the meeting were Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests K.S. Sethi, Secretary P.K. Chakraborty, and other key officials.
The Chief Executive Officer and Project Director, Dr. A.M. Kanfade, provided insights into the ongoing JICA project known as Sustainable Catchment Forest Management in Tripura (SCATFORM). This ambitious project, with a total outlay of Rs. 1000 crore, has been implemented in the state since the fiscal year 2019-20 and is scheduled to continue for a total of 10 years.
SCATFORM covers seven districts in Tripura: West Tripura, South Tripura, Gomati, Sepahijala, Khowai, Unakoti, North Tripura, and three locations in Dhalai district. In a recent review meeting held by the Economic Affairs Department under the Ministry of Finance, Tripura was recognized as the second-best performing state in the country in terms of implementing forest projects, a significant achievement for the state.
The JICA project director also highlighted some major accomplishments in the state. Notably, the development of three new eco-tourism spots and three eco-parks is on the horizon. These new eco-tourism locations include Dumboor Lake, Jampui Hills, and Sitacherra Lake, which are expected to further enhance the state’s tourism potential and contribute to its sustainable development.
