Forest Department’s budget has increased by 400 percent during last 9 years. During 9th Five-Year Plan, forest’s plan budget was Rs 665 crore, which has risen to Rs 4222 crore during 12th Five-Year Plan.
Similarly, plan expenditure was to the tune of Rs 240.16 crore in year 2003-04, which has been increased to Rs 942.60 crore in year 2013-14. In the state, special attention is being paid to conservation and augmentation of forests since year 2004 so that forests are conserved along with qualitative improvement in people’s living standard.
Budget for sapling preparation scheme for public forestry and nurseries was Rs 163.20 lakh, which has gone up to Rs 4000 lakh in year 2013-14. This amounts to increase of 2350 percent.
Annual forest revenue collection in the state was Rs 509.96 crore in year 2002-03, which has increased to Rs 989 crore in year 2012-13. Dividend from forest produce (wood and bamboo) given to associate forest dwellers with forest conservation and augmentation efforts was Rs 3.93 crore, which has increased to Rs 33.45 crore in year 2012-13.
As many as 15,288 Forest Committees have been constituted under public participation-based joint forest management. Through them, management of forests in 68,874 kilometers has been ensured.
During last 9 years, dividend worth Rs 90.97 crore has been distributed to these committees.
Till year 2002, tendu patta collectors used to get only Rs 8.25 crore bonus, which has been increased to Rs 98.22 crore due to revision of policy.
During year 2012, incentive amount of tendu patta collectors was increased from 50 to 70 per cent. Due to it, tendu patta collectors are expected to get bonus worth Rs 250 crore.