Haryana Government on Monday urged the Centre to approve the perspective plan of Shivalik landscape amounting to Rs247 crore for covering 206 villages of three districts namely Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar. The State Government urged the Centre to approve the perspective plan of Shivalik landscape, said Haryana Environment and Forests Minister Capt Abhimanyu while addressing Environment and Forest Ministers’ Conference at New Delhi on Monday.
He said that the State Government will shortly submit perspective plans for other two landscapes namely Aravalli landscape and plains landscape. The Minister said that the Government has decided to launch a campaign namely “Har Ghar Hariyali” in the State during 2015-16. Under this campaign, it is proposed to supply plants to each household in urban areas and to each individual or household in rural areas throughout the State. Emphasis will be given to indigenously grown plants and shrubs for plantation under this campaign. All the 48.57 lakh households are proposed to be covered under this campaign, he informed.
The plants of various species to be supplied under this campaign are proposed to be charged at a nominal rate of Rs1 per plant. The plants will be supplied after site inspection of the pits dug by the individuals or households by the field staff and got verified from village Sarpanch or municipal councilor so as to ensure better survival of plantations proposed to be done under this campaign.
As many as 11 districts of the state fall under the jurisdiction of National Capital Region. All urban areas in these districts are most affected from vehicular and industrial pollution. The state is putting all out efforts for taking up plantation activity in urban areas, extra funds are required for undertaking afforestation along roads, in parks and in blank areas in all 11 districts of the NCR, added Capt. Abhimanyu.
The Minister said “The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 requires a certificate from Deputy Commissioner of the district under Forest Rights Act regarding the tribal population in the district. This causes inordinate delay in submission of such cases. As there is no tribal population in Haryana, the state may be exempted for submitting such certificate from the Deputy Commissioner”. New Wood-Based Industries (WBIs) have to be set up in the state, he added.
He also requested the Centre to approach the Supreme Court for including net import of wood from adjoining states in assessing the availability of wood in the state which will help in establishing new or expansion of WBIs. The Minister also urged the Centre to provide more funds for sustaining Elephant Rehabilitation Centre set up at Yamunanagar.
“There are two national parks and seven wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The notification of Eco-sensitive Zones of Sultanpur National Park has already been issued on January 27, 2010. The state Government has submitted the revised proposal of remaining Protected Areas to Centre on May 20, 2013 but final notification is still awaited. Government of India is hence requested to do the needful at the earliest so that the development works of the state are not hampered any further”, the Minister added.