The Chhattisgarh Government will prepare an ambitious Rs 3,200-crore action plan for the next five years for development of forests in Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Raman Singh has directed officials to prepare a Rs 3,200-crore action plan for the next five years from the funds to be received from Centre's 'Campa Fund'. A Rs 600-crore action plan would be prepared for each year, he said.
About Rs 3,200 crore ‘State Campa Fund’ is currently available with the Central Government. During his recent visit to New Delhi, the Chief Minister held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Forest and Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar on the utilization of the Campa Fund and urged them to release the amount to Chhattisgarh.
On demand of the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister and the Forest and Environment Minister had issued directives to the officers concerned for immediate action. Now, Chhattisgarh is expected to receive the fund soon.
In a meeting held here, the Chief Minister had stated that in the action plan, dense tree plantation on the banks of major rivers of the State, construction of small ponds for providing drinking water facilities to wildlife, godowns and sheds for collection of small forest produces and solar light facility for the forest villages should necessarily be included.
Singh had stated that under the Campa head, total treatment of all the major rivers of the State should be done. Dense forestation should be done on both banks of all the rivers of the state from their place of origin.
The Chief Minister has given approval for engaging private specialists in this work, if needed. Singh had also directed to launch a special drive for planting trees on the sides of road from Mainpat in Surguja and Jagadalpur to Chitrakot Waterfalls.
He directed to plant only one variety of saplings on one road, with which not only the beauty of the road would be enhanced, but it would get a new identification also.