While replying to the question of Maheshwar Singh, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri said that the government will form a comprehensive policy for systematic and sustainable exploitation of medicinal plants to cover more herbs in view of their growing commercial value.
Bharmouri said there were over 800 herbs and the government had given panchayats the power to issue export permit for 37 herbs. Minister said that the Forest Department had identified 90 important herbs for which a policy would be framed after holding consultations with experts and stakeholders to facilitate sustainable exploitation.
He said ‘nag chhatri’ was in the extended list and a committee under the Principal Secretary for Forests had been set up to investigate the status of the herb and its commercial use and value so that rational export fee rates could be fixed.
