The chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh laid stress on Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), while chairing the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) steering committee meeting.
Speaking at the meeting held in the secretariat here on Wednesday, Singh said that instead of digging pits for plantation stress should be on natural regeneration. He said that based on the market demand, tree plantation should be done at cluster level. Species like Chulu, Ritha, Dadim, Temla, Tejpat, Hissalu, Kaphal, Chura and Bhimal among others should be planted. He further said that this would help in enhancing the income of locals and in turn help check migration. With regeneration of native tree species in the areas, the wild animals would also be able to get food which would help mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Besides, 12,000 forest panchayats of the state would also get income generation opportunities.
In the meeting, for the financial year 2018-19, work plan amounting to Rs 211.30 crore was approved. Also, for the completion of the unfinished works of the year 2017-18, Rs 107 crore has been revived. From this, compensatory afforestation would be done on land measuring 3514 hectares.
He also insisted that priority should be given for planting trees which bear fruits.
For the soil and water conservation, 950 water bodies having varied capacity have been created. Further, 3761 check dams and ‘Chal-Khal’ (ponds) and 339 natural water resources would be revived. Contour trench would be constructed in 3848 hectare area.
In 473 hectare area, tress would be planted alongside the path. Besides, various activities of the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan would be conducted. Further, 2147 kilometre forest motor roads and dirt road would be strengthened. Wildlife protection, forest research and forest panchayats would be strengthened.
It was stated in the meeting that MIS has been prepared for the assessment and monitoring of CAMPA works. Physical examination is also being done through E-Green Watch Satellite.
Additional chief secretary Ranveer Singh, principal chief conservator of forests Jai Raj, chief wildlife warden DVS Khati, Planning secretary Ranjit Sinha, CAMPA CEO Samir Sinha, Mahendra Singh from Himalayan Action and Research Centre (HARC) and Jogendra Bisht from lok Chetna Manch were also present in the meeting.