Jharkhand Pushes Eco-Tourism Growth, CM Hemant Soren Chairs Key JETA Meeting

Ranchi, March 2026 : Chief Minister Hemant Soren chaired the fourth meeting of the governing body of the Jharkhand Eco-Tourism Authority (JETA), underscoring the immense potential of eco-tourism in the state and directing officials to accelerate its planned development. The meeting focused on identifying key eco-tourism destinations and ensuring coordinated efforts among departments to transform them into sustainable and attractive tourism hubs.

Highlighting Jharkhand’s rich natural beauty, the Chief Minister stated that the state is endowed with dense forests, scenic hills, rivers, and waterfalls, making it ideal for eco-tourism expansion. He emphasized that planned development of such destinations would not only boost tourism but also generate employment opportunities for local communities while ensuring environmental conservation.

Calling for a coordinated approach, he directed the Forest, Tourism, and Water Resources departments to work in synergy to develop eco-tourism sites. He stressed the need to identify promising locations across the state and prepare a comprehensive development roadmap. The Chief Minister also instructed officials to ensure time-bound implementation of projects, with special focus on creating robust infrastructure at identified destinations.

During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the development of several prominent eco-tourism sites, including Netarhat, Betla, Patratu, Deoghar, and other scenic locations. The Chief Minister reviewed progress on ongoing initiatives and asked officials to prioritize projects that can deliver quick and visible outcomes. He also emphasized preparing integrated master plans for eco-tourism development, ensuring that environmental sustainability remains at the core of all initiatives.

Describing eco-tourism as a powerful engine of economic growth, Hemant Soren said it has the potential to provide Jharkhand with national and international recognition. He noted that eco-tourism not only showcases the state’s natural heritage but also strengthens local livelihoods by creating jobs in hospitality, guiding services, and related sectors.

He further directed officials to identify major tourist spots, forest areas, rivers, reservoirs, and hill ranges, and develop them with modern amenities while maintaining ecological balance. The focus, he said, should be on sustainable tourism that preserves the environment and benefits local communities.

The meeting was attended by senior officials and ministers, including Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar, Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, and representatives from the Ecotourism Society of India, along with top officials from the Forest, Environment, and Water Resources departments.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Chief Minister concluded that eco-tourism would play a vital role in driving Jharkhand’s economic development while preserving its natural heritage for future generations.