48,000 hectares brought under green cover: Govt

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 13

The state government has brought 48,000 hectare area under green cover during the last four years by spending Rs 635-61 crore. This year, the state will bring 15,000 hectare additional area by spending Rs 162.5 crore, says the government.

According to the government note, besides, Rs1.33 crore medicinal plants were planted in the same period and 35 lakh such plants would be planted this year. The broad leave, wild fruit bearing and medicinal plants enabling the farming community to get cattle feed, fuel wood are being planted under the plan, it added.

The government is implementing various forest projects, including Rs 630.37 crore Mid Himalayan Watershed Development, Rs 227 crore Swan River Integreted Watershed Management, Rs 10 crore Forest Management and Capacity Development in Training Sector, Rs 310 crore HP Forest Eco System Climate Proofing, Rs 800 crore HP Forest Eco system Management and Livelihood and Rs 665 crore Forest Eco system Climate Proofing Projects which have given new dimension to the forest sector in the state.

As per India State of Forest Report-2015 of Indian Forest Survey Institure, Dehradun, the state has achieved an increase of 13 sq km in the total forest area. Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in Asia to get carbon credit and first installment of Rs 1.93 crore has been received.

To enhance the survival percentage of plants, the maintenance period of saplings is increased from 3 years to 5 years and under CAT-plan, the period is increased from 5 years to 7 years. Besides, the RCC fencing has been promoted to protect the saplings and to stop the deforestation.

To save the state from ‘lantana’ disease, 3,689 hectare of land has been made lantana-free with an amount of Rs 13.99 crore and a target has been set to re-establish 743 hectare of land by spending an outlay of Rs 13.99 crore.

As many as 362 cases were sanctioned under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 while 563 cases under the Forest Right Act, 2006, in the last four-and-half years and developmental works were given a new dimension.

The TD policy was revised as per the expectations and needs of the people and its notification was a major decision of the government. The state government brought 775 villages out of sanctuary area benefitting about one lakh people and the decison resulted in a rapid development of these villages, the release said.