In a bid to protect forest cover in the State, Haryana Government has carried out digitisation of block forest areas in 14 districts of the State.
The digitisation work in districts of Mahendergarh, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Mewat, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Rewari is under progress. “Forest Department has so far carried out digitisation of block forest areas in 14 districts through HARSAC during the year 2016-17,” said Forest Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Tuesday.
He said that the department has planted 141.01 lakh saplings over an area of 18,842 hectares of land during the current fiscal year. In addition, 31.56 lakh plants have also been sold or distributed.
Under the ‘Har Ghar Hariyali’ programme, aimed at increasing the green cover, he said that 12.58 lakh saplings have been planted in the households.
The Minister informed that Forest Department has decided to issue about 500 new licences for establishing wood based industries in the State. These licenses would be issued online through e-Citizen service namely “Grant of license to establish Wood Based Industries”, which is being developed by the department.
He said that the setting up of such industries would help in planting more trees under farm forestry and achieving the goals of Haryana Forest Policy. The licenses to already established wood based industries would also be renewed online.
The Minister said that the department had already launched two e-Citizen services namely “Permission for Felling of Trees” and “NOCs in respect of PlPA or Forest or Restricted lands” in February 2016. These two services have been integrated with Right to Service Act.
Rao Narbir said that nature education and awareness programmes have also been launched from Kalesar to sensitise people to preserve and protect the natural resources. The Nature Education and Awareness Centres were established at Hisar, Jind and Bhindawas, he added.