Jhansi: Eco-tourism will generate local employment while promoting awareness about forest, wildlife and biodiversity conservation, Uttar Pradesh environment, forest and climate change minister Arun Kumar Saxena said on Thursday while inaugurating eco-tourism centres in Jhansi and Lalitpur.Saxena inaugurated the Vanguwan Eco-tourism Centre on the banks of the Betwa river in Jhansi and the Ranchhodham-Muchkund Cave Eco-tourism Centre in Lalitpur. He also inaugurated the renovated Vetravati Zonal Auditorium at the Jhansi forest department headquarters and attended a state-level workshop on enhancing green cover and groundwater recharge in Bundelkhand.Addressing the workshop, Saxena stressed the concept of “a bund on every field and a tree on every bund” to increase green cover. He also urged people to protect saplings planted under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and Van Mahotsav 2026.The workshop brought together forest officials, scientists, agricultural and irrigation experts, soil and water conservation officials, groundwater department representatives, environmentalists, NGOs and farmers from Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot.
