The State Government seems hardly serious about maintaining green cover i.e. plantation of its forests. The fact of the matter is that routine plantation process has been completed in the Terai central forest division in Kumaon division. But no fund demanded for this work, has so far been granted.
We have somehow managed to carry out the plantation works in our forest division as per the given target with our available resources. But no fund has so far released by the Government, said the officials concerned of the Terai- central forest division.
Since payments have to be made to the labourers hired for plantation works timely, therefore, delay in release of funds causes unnecessary difficulty to meet these financial requirements, maintained the officials concerned of the Terai-central forest division.
The Terai-central forest division had demanded about Rs 2 crore for carrying out the plantation works this year. It seems among other reasons State Government’s switching over to the electronic mode of payment has also caused delay in release of the required fund. Though the e-payment system has now been in practice in Uttrakhand, many a few departments are yet to switch over this mode of payments. That it is causing delay in release of fund.
The Terai-central forest division has carried out plantation in a total 996 hectare area in this season i.e. 2014-2015 said Sanatan, Divisional Forest Officer, the Terai-Central forest division. A total 772688 plants were planted in this 996 hectare area, apart from sowing of 107 quintal seeds, added Sanatan. It may be recalled that the Terai-central forest division also received appreciation from the state forest department for doing the best plantation and related works on conservation front among all the forest divisions and other wings of the State forest department across the State in 2013-2014.
Commending the plantation and seed sowing works in 2013-2014, the state forest department said that following the growth of the trees the entire area taking a shape of a forest of high standard in the Terai- central forest division.
The Terai-central forest division is home to a variety of trees like sheesam, ‘Jamun’, ‘Gutel’, ‘Amaltas’ eucalyptus to name a few. It is worth mention here that high standard plantation as well as conservation works have rather resulted in the development of miscellaneous forests in the Terai- central forest division.
Presence of elephants as the cases of encroachment of the pachyderms in human habitations for fodder in this aforesaid forest division suggest, only gives that impression.