Delay in release of the funds by the State Forest Department and, for that matter, the State Government, has hit plant protection and conservation works, post plantation drive, in the Terai-central forest division.
The routine plantation works had already been completed in the Terai-central forest division in Kumaon division in due course of time during the monsoon season as usual. But no fund that was demanded for this work, has so far been granted, as the officials concerned of the Terai-central forest division said.
We had been able to carry out the plantation works in our forest division as per the given target with our available resources and by taking loans. But no fund has so far been released. That has created difficulty for us to pay the loans taken for the plantation works, maintained the officials concerned.
The fact is that even if there is no release of funds, we have to pay the labourers, hired for the plantation works on time. Therefore, we have to take loans to pay the laboures. At the same time, these loans have also to be cleared on time. More so, on account of no release of funds from the Government so far, it has now also become difficult to carry out the necessary plant protection or conservation works, they maintained.
The Terai-central forest division had demanded about Rs2 crore for carrying out the plantation works this year. But as the experts engaged in forest conservation works alleged, plantation and conservation works seem to be low on the priority list of the Government, resulting in the delay of clearance of the funds.
The Terai-central forest division has carried out plantation in a total 996 hectare area in this season i.e. 2014-2015 as the officials concerned of this forest division informed.
A total 772688 plants were started in the 996 hectare area, apart from the sowing of 107 quintal seeds, added the officials concerned.
The Terai-central forest division is home to a variety of trees like sheesam, Jamun, Gutel, Amaltas, and eucalyptus, to name a few, giving rise to mixed forests in this forest division.
The officials concerned claimed, the high standard plantation as well as conservation works are the main objectives behind developing miscellaneous forests in the Terai-central forest division. But delay in clearance of funds is hitting the conservations works, post plantation drive, they added.