Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday stressed upon the need to protect and safeguard the precious biodiversity of Chhattisgarh. He was speaking at the Biodiversity Board's Advisory Board meeting at Mantralaya here.
“There is a need to protect flora-fauna of the State. The forest-dwellers depend upon the forests for their livelihood. It is very important to look after the immense forest wealth,’’ Singh stated.
He instructed the concerned officers to form Biodiversity Committees in forest circles. The Chhattisgarh Biodiversity Rule 2015 was also passed at the meeting. Singh called upon the officers to prepare a master plan to protect precious biodiversity as early as possible.
After a detailed discussion it was decided to reduce the buffer zone in Bastar Revenue Division. The proposal will be sent to the Union Government. There is a move to reduce 1438 square kilometre Indrawati Tiger Project to enable the forest-dwellers to lead a normal livelihood.
The State Government is of the view to reduce the Indrawati Tiger Project from the present 1438 square kilometre to 513 square kilometre. About 80 villages were affected by the Tiger Project earlier but now 77 villages are out of the Tiger Project.
The proposal will be sent to the Central Government. It has been decided to operate Jan Suvidha Express to transport the forest-dwellers at the Achankumar Reserve region.
MlA Mahesh Gagda, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Forest Department Principal Secretary R. P. Mandal, Secretary to Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Principal Conservator of Forests Ramprakash and various senior officers were present at the meeting.