The Government is going to carry out massive afforestation drive in State by planting 37 lakhs saplings to compensate felling of 3.44 lakh trees for the completion of Mandal Dam project in Palamu.
The Government disclosed their plan to carry out massive afforestaion in the State to the query made by Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) MLA, Pradeep Yadav in State Assembly on Tuesday.
Yadav, raising a query at question hour of ongoing budget session of Jharkhand Assembly, stated that around 3.44 lakh trees will be cut in Palamu due to the construction work of Mandal dam.
Replying to the query made by Yadav, Minister in-charge Forest and Environment Amar Kumar Bauri said that 3.44 lakh trees will be cut for completion of the project, the cutting down of such a large number of trees will surely create an adverse environment impact, but the Government has decided to carry out massive afforestaion drive in Palamu and Garwha districts.
Bauri said, “After cutting down such huge number of trees, 37 lakh saplings will be planted in Palamu and Garwha districts. The water resources department has already provided Rs 92 crore and the amount have been deposited in Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds.”
The CAMPA funds, which have been set up as per CAMPA Act, both at Centre and State level to ensure expeditious and transparent utilization of amounts realised in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purpose. The Government admitted that around Rs 2,250 crore is deposited at CAMPA fund, but as there is a restriction of utilisation of only ten percent of total fund.
The JVM MLA, raised the issue of deforestation was raised by media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in first week of January inaugurated six irrigation projects in Palamau, Garhwa and Chatra districts. The projects include Rs 2,391.36 crore Mandal Dam that will provide irrigation to 19,604 hectare in Palamau and Garhwa districts.
The State as per last year Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) has posted a marginal increase in forest area between 2015 and 2017, however, State total forest and green cover have reached to 32.22 per cent of its total geographical area against the 33 percent mandate of national forest policy.
