Under patronage of Maoists, smuggling of timber, wild animal skins and their body parts is taking place in Chhattisgarh and its bordering States,” Chhattisgarh Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda said on Wednesday.
The Minister was interacting with mediapersons here at the Raipur Press Club.
Responding to a question pertaining dense forests in insurgency-hit districts of Chhattisgarh, Gagda said that insurgents are existing in the State due to the State’s dense forest cover.
“People involved in smuggling of timber and body parts of wild animals are enjoying the patronage of rebels,” he said.
Gagda further claimed that forest personnel along with local police is paying massive efforts to check illegal transportation of timber wood and smuggling of wild animal body parts.
Speaking about further course of action to be taken by him, the Forest Minister said in the interest of people dwelling close to forest areas, the State Forest Department is planning to promote Agro-forestry in Chhattisgarh.
“Moreover, the Forest Department in association with Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) would take some important steps to endorse eco-tourism initiatives in Chhattisgarh,” he said.
“Promotion of eco-tourism is going to strengthen the economic status of people residing in places to be endorsed for eco-tourism,” Gagda added.
“Chhattisgarh Medicinal Plant Board is taking several steps to cater to the market at national and global level, said Gagda, elaborating that under this move, the Board is taking help from traditional healers residing across the State.
Notably, with a massive push already provided to promote growing of medicinal plants, the Chhattisgarh Government last year had launched its ‘Home Herbal Garden Scheme’ for the people of the State.
Chhattisgarh with its myriad forest resource has huge potential for supply of medicinal plants to the general public for their kitchen gardens with the prime objective of promoting their health and well being, officials stated.
Keeping this perspective in mind, Chief Minister Raman Singh had announced that the scheme has been launched under which the Medicinal Plant Board — an undertaking of the State Government’s Forest Department is distributing medicinal plant saplings free of cost and organising mobile exhibition and quiz contests at schools and other public places.
Medicinal Plant Board officials informed that to ensure supply of medicinal plants, nearly 8 lakh saplings of various species are being developed in special nurseries at eight forest boards which includes Raipur, Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon, Dharamjaigarh, Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, Kanker and Jashpur.
The species that are being developed in such nurseries include Aloe Vera, Aamla, Adusa, Neem, Applique, Giloy, Satavar, Ashwagandha, Bel, Brahmi, Mondukparni and Basil.
Under the ‘Home Herbal Garden Scheme,’ harmless medicinal saplings are distributed to people, which they can easily plant in pots or nurseries and use it as first aid to cure cough-cold, fever, stomach pain, headache and other general ailments, they informed.