Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday appealed to the citizens of the State to conserve forests, on the eve of World Forestry Day which falls on Wednesday March 21.
The Chief Minister in a message cautioned the people that there is life on planet earth as long as forests exist.
Singh said one cannot imagine human beings living on earth if there are no forests. It is the moral, social and national responsibility of human beings to conserve forests and nurture saplings.
The Chief Minister added that greenery is needed to maintaining healthy environment and delicate balance between nature and human race. The citizens of Chhattisgarh are fortunate enough to have precious forest resources, rich bio-diversity and medicinal plants. lakhs of tribals are dependent on forest produces as a source of livelihood.
The forest-dwellers 'livelihood in dependent on Tendu-patta, saal-seeds, 'Chironji', tamarind, harra, and other minor forest produce. The forests are rich source of treasure for herbal medicines also, he said.
Singh called upon the citizens to protect forests from fires during summers.
The Chief Minister revealed that the density of forests is being reduced due to urbanization, widening of roads, building of housing colonies and industrialization which ultimately will be detrimental to the survival of mankind.
Singh said that saplings should be planted if there is need for cutting down of trees for providing basic amenities.
He added that to lessen pressure on forests Prime Minister 'Ujjwala' project had been providing subsidized domestic cooking gas connections to poor women. About five crore poor women will be provided with gas connections. About 18 lakh women had been allocated gas connections in the State till date.
Singh said that 7887 Forest Management Committees had been constituted to enlarge the people's participation in conserving forests.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Forestry Day, State Forest Department is going to organize a day-long the city on March 21. This workshop will be attended by nearly 1500 representatives of forest management committees and forest produce societies of various districts in Chhattisgarh State.
The Chief Minister will also inaugurate this workshop at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in local Government Science College Campus in Raipur around 10.30 am.
This workshop is based on 'Basis of Sustainable livelihood- Forest Produce Business'.
The inaugural session will be presided over by Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda. On the occasion, Chief Minister will also give away excellence award, on behalf of Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Trade and Development Cooperative Union.
This award will be conferred upon District Union of Katghora Forest Division, District Union of Jagdalpur Forest Board, District Union of Keshkal Forest Division and District Union of Surajpur Forest Division. Managing Director and Deputy Director of these district unions will be receiving the award.
The inaugural programme of the workshop will be attended by famous Environmentalist and Padma Bhushan awardee Chandiprasad Bhatt and Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Forest Produce Union Bharat Sai will be Guest of Honour. Besides, Vice-Chairman of Uttarakhand State Rural Development and Migration Control Commission Dr SS Negi, Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Vanoshadhi Board Rampratap Singh and Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Forest Development Corporation Shrinivas Maddi will be present as special guests.