Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday, 24 July 2026, launched an ambitious thematic garden project at Durgesh Aranya International Zoological Park in Dehra, Kangra district, and simultaneously released Rs 4 crore to fund its implementation through the Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (HPSBB).

Context

Posting on X, CM Sukhu announced: 'कांगड़ा जिला के देहरा स्थित दुर्गेश अरण्य अंतरराष्ट्रीय प्राणी उद्यान में विकसित की जाने वाली महत्वाकांक्षी थीमैटिक गार्डन परियोजना का शुभारंभ किया' ['Launched the ambitious thematic garden project to be developed at Durgesh Aranya International Zoological Park in Dehra, Kangra district']. The funds have been routed through the HPSBB to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Himachal Pradesh, for effective project execution. The Chief Minister described the initiative as a significant step toward conserving the state's rich biodiversity while simultaneously promoting environmental education, scientific research, and eco-tourism.

Policy Backdrop

India's Biological Diversity Act, 2002 established national and state-level biodiversity boards to regulate access to biological resources and drive conservation across the country. The Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board is the nodal body mandated to implement these measures within the state. Himalayan states have increasingly pursued integrated biodiversity and eco-tourism projects to generate sustainable revenue while meeting conservation targets under national action plans — a model that combines protected-area development with education and research components.

Kangra district, where the zoological park is located, already has significant wildlife tourism infrastructure and is home to considerable floral and faunal diversity. The thematic garden model being adopted at Durgesh Aranya reflects a broader national trend of upgrading zoo facilities into multi-purpose conservation and learning centres, in line with India's commitments to sustainable use of natural resources in ecologically sensitive zones.

Stakeholders and Impact

The project is expected to benefit multiple groups: local communities stand to gain from increased eco-tourism footfall and associated livelihoods; wildlife researchers and academic institutions will have a dedicated facility for scientific study of Himalayan biodiversity; and school and college students across the region will have access to structured environmental education. The routing of funds through the HPSBB to the Chief Wildlife Warden indicates a coordinated, multi-agency implementation framework designed to ensure accountability in fund utilisation.

Eco-tourism in Himachal Pradesh has grown steadily as a revenue stream for the state government, and a facility of this scale — combining a zoological park with thematic gardens — could position Dehra as a significant destination on the state's conservation tourism circuit.

What's Next

Observers will watch for fund utilisation reports and physical progress milestones from the Chief Wildlife Warden's office in the months ahead. Any future state budget announcements on further biodiversity infrastructure investment will signal how central this project is to the Sukhu government's conservation agenda. The thematic garden's eventual opening to the public will be a key test of whether the initiative delivers on its stated goals of education, research, and sustainable tourism.