Patna: Bihar’s Cooperative and Forest and Environment Minister, Dr. Prem Kumar, visited Guindy National Park and Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai on December 28, 2024 to study Tamil Nadu’s forest and environment initiatives. The Minister was welcomed by Srinivas Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), and IFS officer Dilip Kumar, representing Tamil Nadu’s Forest and Environment Department.
During the visit, Dr. Kumar was briefed on various government schemes and activities implemented in Tamil Nadu’s forest and environment sectors. Impressed by the state’s effective use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) models, Dr. Kumar instructed Bihar’s departmental officials to explore the implementation of similar models in his state.
The Minister also discussed the potential for introducing World Bank and JICA-funded initiatives in Bihar, citing Tamil Nadu’s programs as examples of “best practices.” He expressed a strong interest in adopting these approaches to enhance forest conservation and environmental protection in Bihar.
Dr. Kumar extended an invitation to Tamil Nadu officials to visit Bihar for an exchange of expertise and experiences. Accompanying him on this study tour were Dr. S Kumaraswamy (IFS) and officials from Bihar’s Cooperative and Forest and Environment departments, including Lalan Kumar Sharma, Shirendra Narayan, Safdar Rahmani, and Anadi Shankar.
The Minister emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s innovative practices could serve as an inspiration for Bihar’s forest management and environmental strategies. He described the visit as a significant step toward adopting new schemes and corrective measures, highlighting the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable development goals.
