The State Government has invited concept plans for proposed Oxy Zone in Raipur from registered Architects and Consultants empanelled with it to develop a world-class eco project, officials informed.
An ‘Oxy-zone’ would be established in every district of Chhattisgarh with public participation, Chief Minister Raman Singh had announced in July this year.
He made the announcement while inaugurating the massive State-level sapling plantation drive at Thanod village under Hariyar Chhattisgarh programme in Naya Raipur recently. He said that if citizens themselves want to carry out plantations in an acre of land out of 10 acres, the Forest Department will provide the saplings.
The funds for establishing oxy-forest in all the districts and plantation on riverbanks in Rajnandgaon district will be sanctioned from Hariyar Chhattisgarh funds, officials informed in a meeting chaired by State Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand at the Mantralaya recently.
The Chief Secretary in the meeting approved proposals of various works worth nearly Rs 67 crores for 2017-18.
This mainly includes the announcements made by Chief Minister Raman Singh on various occasions and other important works of state Government.
In the meeting, proposal worth Rs 1.68 crore was sanctioned for drinking water schemes in all the villages of Rajnandgaon district, Rs 2.45 crore for installation of solar water pumps in Baiga hamlets of Kabeerdham district, Rs 75 lakh for development works in Rajarao plateau area of Balod district, Rs 50 lakh for new pond development works in Farfaud village of Aarang block in Raipur district, Rs 10 crores for development works in 100 out of 431 villages converted from forest village to revenue village and proposal worth Rs 10 crore was approved for multi-tier plantation.
Nearly Rs 11 crore for Kosa Rally Promotions Camp, Rs 7 crore for catchment area development in Kasdol block of Balodabazar district, Rs 5 crore for lion Safari and Carnivore shifting in Naya Raipur based Jungle Safari, Rs 5 lakh for Sanctuary Education Committee Chhaparva under Achanakmar Tiger Reserve have been sanctioned in the meeting.
With an objective to provide conducive environment for the candidates who want to do preparations for various competitive examinations of Chhattisgarh State, the Raipur District Mineral Trust Fund (RDMTF) will develop ‘Oxy reading zone’ in nearly six acres of land available in between National Institute of Technology and Central library in the city.
‘Oxy reading zone’ will be developed in the city similar to high-tech facilities available in Mukherjee Nagar and Delhi University and several other places of the national capital to provide fully-equipped environment for enabling students prepare for competitive examinations in Central India.
The ‘Oxy reading zone’ would be built at a cost of Rs 8 crore wherein Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) will provide necessary assistance in implementing the project to the RDMTF.
An indoor and outdoor reading zone would be developed along with well-equipped G+3 (ground+ three storey) reading tower facility for the aspirants whereas saplings of Peepal, Neem etc will be planted besides construction of platform, land scape, garden would be developed on the premises of outer campus of the ‘Oxy reading zone’.
The ‘Oxy reading zone’ would have free wi-fi connectivity for the aspirants besides a reading zone, library, e-library, reprography section, discussion section, multi-media room would be constructed besides the facility of book store, stationary, Computer Centre and two cafeteria whose income will assist for successfully operating the ‘Oxy reading zone’.
Notably, on the other hand, Naya Raipur is not just fast emerging as the hi-tech State capital of Chhattisgarh but also an adventure sports destination.
The four kms cycling track, Kayaking, Burma Bridge and a 2 kms skating track are some of the facilities already functional in the new capital city, officials informed.
Boating facility had been made available to visitors at the Jungle Safari from January 1 this year in the new capital.
The Jungle Safari comprises of four separate Safaris including Herbivore Safari, Bear Safari, Tiger and lion Safari.
Around 166 personnel including officials, doctors, zoo-keeper, guard and other staff are deployed for taking care of animals in the Safari.
Notably the Chhattisgarh Government has also earmarked 258.48 hectares of land in the capital for setting up a ‘Nature Resort’ and a ‘Theme Park’ in future, officials stated.
On the other hand, it may be recalled that a ‘Theme Residential Township’-the first of its kind in Central India would have people living in sort of a ‘getaway’ location surrounded by natural surroundings in the new capital city.
The State Government recently informed that the ‘Purkhauti Muktangan’ had also been developed with the vision to promote culture, tradition, and archeology.
Traditional sculptors of Chhattisgarh have given it the shape of cultural heritage. Spread over 200 acres of land, Purkhauti Muktangan is situated nearly 20 km away from village Uparwara, officials informed.
Soon rock garden and aquarium will also be developed at the Purkhauti Muktangan premises which will further enhance its significance, they informed.
The Central Government has approved 20,716 hectares of land for afforestation drive in Chhattisgarh during the last financial year under ‘Green India Mission’.
The funds released by the Centre for the afforestation programme amounts to Rs 17.39 crores during the current financial year, officials informed.
During the last financial year, the Centre had approved the same quantum of land ( 20,716 hectares) for afforestation with fund allocation of Rs 23.39 crores.
The students, officials and employees of various universities, colleges will also plant one lakh saplings in the current year as a part of the ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh Mission’, officials informed.
The Higher Education Department officials said that as per the wishes and directives of Chief Minister Raman Singh, the target is to carry out plantations in all the universities and colleges in the current academic session.
A circular had been issued to all the Vice-Chancellors of universities and Principals of various colleges.
A minimum of 500 saplings have to be planted in each educational institution under the ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh Mission’.The State Government has planted around 61,83,000 saplings at an expenditure of Rs 13.73 crore, officials stated.
A total of 35,55,000 saplings were prepared with a budget of Rs 5.58 crore at the nursery level.
Panchayat and Rural Development Department officials said 5,183 activities are sanctioned for planting saplings on the roadsides under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
The Government has fixed a budget of over Rs 111 crore for planting 10 lakh saplings under the plan.
Similar targets have been made at the nursery and block plantation levels.
As many as 8.25 crore saplings have been planted under the campaign till September last year. It is around 85,000 more than the target of the Forest Department, officials stated.
Notably, Chief Minister Raman Singh had urged each citizen to plant atleast four saplings in the ongoing greening exercise. It sums up to planting 10 crore saplings by the present population of 2.5 crore across the State.
Singh has given different target to every Government departments. The maximum aim of planting 40 crore saplings was set for the Forest Department.