Chief Secretary Dr DK Tiwari, while reviewing the state level coordination committee meeting of CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Planning Authority), today directed the Forest Department to plant more and more fruit bearing plants in the forests. He said that this will bring economic benefit in the form of fruits to the forest-based people in the coming times, while they will preserve these plants instead of cutting them for firewood etc. This will strengthen the eco system and there will not be any extra pressure of guarding these trees. The process of growing a fruitful plant is a bit slow instead of a timber plant. So far, the forest department plants almost negligible fruit trees. The Chief Secretary directed that immediately, 20 per cent of the total plantation and 50 per cent further, should be planted with fruit bearing trees.

Stressing on accelerating the pace of plantation in the State, the CS directed that the forest department should provide free saplings to the government departments to encourage more plantations. So far the forest department has been providing one plant at token money of five rupees. The Chief Secretary said that the rural development department is constructing the watershed where they should be be planted. This will prevent soil erosion and also conserve water.

Directing the mapping of the forest area, the CS said that it will help to know where and how much land is occupied by every inch of the forest department. Keeping the emphasis on plantation and water conservation in coordination with other departments, the Forest Department was instructed to do this work under synergy.

Jharkhand has got approval of Rs 4,158 crore for forest development under CAMPA. This is the fourth major amount for Jharkhand in the entire country. Odisha has got the maximum amount.

Emphasising on the maximum utilisation of this amount, the CS said that it is like a bright side for the State. With this amount, the forest of Jharkhand can be further intensified.

Prdma Shri recipient Yamuna Kujur also shared her experiences in the meeting. Expressing satisfaction over the conservation and development of forests in the state, she expressed concern over loss of life and property from elephants. She stressed that the State government should focus on protection from elephants. On the occasion, the CS directed the Forest Department to make a safe corridor for elephants going from Dalma area to West Bengal. For this, he instructed to construct an over pass and under pass corridor to block movement of elephants on the National Highway. He said that the Forest Department should execute this under his leadership and prepare a proposal for taking permission from NHAI for this.

Additional CS, Forest and Environment Department, IS Chaturvedi; Additional CS Finance cum Planning KK Khandelwal; Principal Secretary of Rural Development Department Avinash Kumar, PCCF Sanjay Kumar alongwith several other officers were present in the meeting.