Chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and other Northeastern states are expected to take part in the conference, dates for which would be announced later.
After advocating a separate Central policy for Himalayan states, Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank is contemplating to launch a joint strategy with them for the overall development of the region.
Nishank is planning to convene a conference of chief ministers of Himalayan states here shortly to discuss the issues of development, the economy and industrial activities.
Chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and other Northeastern states are expected to take part in the conference, dates for which would be announced later, an official spokesman said.
Nishank is also seeking from the Centre a special compensatory package for preserving natural wealth in the hill state as well as extension of the industrial package 2003 till 2020.
Experts said there should be a separate Central policy for hill states where a big mass of land comes under forest cover.
"Since we are preserving forests for the whole of the country, we must get special compensatory package," said a forest department official.
The government's estimate suggests that for preserving reserved forests, especially wildlife national parks, the state must get Rs1,000-1,500 crore annually as part of this compensatory package. The spokesman also reiterated the demand for an extension of the special industrial package till 2020 for Uttarakhand and said the state should get all the incentives which had been given to its north-eastern counterparts.
Recently, Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad favoured a separate policy for three Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Union minister of state for labour Harish Rawat has also agreed with Nishank that the special industrial package for Uttarakhand should be extended.
Rawat said he would launch efforts in this regard.
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