India, Feb. 3 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday directed Forest Department officials to prepare a comprehensive roadmap to increase Himachal Pradesh's forest cover to 31 per cent by 2030.

Presiding over a review meeting of the department here, the chief minister said the current forest cover in the State stands at 29.5 per cent and needs to be enhanced in a planned and sustainable manner.

"Global warming has emerged as a major challenge worldwide, and its adverse effects are clearly visible. Keeping this in view, the State Government is giving high priority to environmental conservation," Sukhu said.

The chief minister added that about 16,376 square kilometres of land in Himachal Pradesh is snow-covere...