BHOPAL | Saturday, March 6, 2010 | Email | Print |  | Back
Five-year project implemented for checking land, forest degradation
Staff Reporter | Bhopal
An Integrated Project for Land and Eco System Management to Combat Forest Degradation and Deforestation in Madhya Pradesh is being implemented in Madhya Pradesh for checking land and forest degradation. The five-year project will be implemented in Betul, Chhindwara, Umaria and Sidhi districts.
Forest Minister Sartaj Singh informed that the total cost of the project is Rs 512.93 crore (around 95.23 million dollars). Out of this, subsidy worth Rs 25.93 crore (5.6 million dollars) will be provided by Global Environment Facility (GEF) through United Nations Development Programme.
Sartaj Singh informed that the objective of the project is to lessen the effects for degradation of forest and non-forest lands. Under the project, degraded forests will be upgraded, income of poor people living near degraded forests will be boosted, additional sources of fuel wood will be made available and works will be undertaken for soil and water conservation, improving cattle breeds etc.
He informed that under the project degraded bamboo forest spreading in three to four thousand hectare will be treated with the help of local rural people. Every family engaged in this work will be given Rs 2,500 per month. Every family will work on five hectare area every year. This will not only help upgrade the degraded forests but will also provide employment to the families engaged in this work for four years.
The Forest Minister informed that through 100 Forest Committees in the selected districts, forest/agriculture-based small scale units will be conducted in such trades as dona-patta (bowls made of dried leaves), incense stick, handmade paper, chilly powder, garlic powder etc. This will provide additional source of income to the rural people and lead to increase in their skills.
The Minister informed that energy forests will be developed in ten project districts where fast-growing trees will be grown for obtaining timber. He said that ‘charagah van’ (meadow forest) will be developed in five hectare area each in ten project districts where fast-growing plants will be grown for fodder, which will lessen burden of grazing on forests.
Works pertaining to soil and water conservation will be undertaken in 900 hectare area each in Betul, Chhindwara and Umaria districts and in 300 hectare area in Sidhi district. Works for promoting hybrid agriculture and animal husbandry will be conducted in 6 to 8 villages of the project districts through the concerning departments.
Training in forest management will be imparted to 20 members each of 25 Forest Committees in every project district. These trained members will train others from time to time. Saplings of medicinal plants will be provided to members of 100 forest committees free of cost for planting them on ‘badis’. This will save such plants from becoming extinct apart from providing extra income to the villagers.
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