One crore saplings to be planted in a day under Hariyali Mahotsav
Bhopal: One crore saplings will be planted in a day under Hariyali Mahotsav in Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Hariyali Mahotsav should be turned into a mass movement. Shri Chouhan reviewed activities of Forest Department at Mantralaya here today. Shri Chouhan directed to chalk out a comprehensive policy to establish forest produce-based industries. Through them employment will be provided to 4 lakh people in 5 years. Forest Minister Dr. Gaurishankar Shejwar and Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa were also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister directed to make arrangements for training, marketing and packaging for forest dwellers establishing small industries for linking forests to employment. For this, 5-year time-bound scheme should be chalked out. Ensure public participation at every level to turn Hariyali Mahotsav into a mass movement. Preparations for the movement should be made in June. Reviewing Bamboo Mission, he said that a big target should be set to provide employment to people living near bamboo forests. Forest Department should work by strking a balance between environment and development. He termed as useful the workshop for apprising departmental officers regarding provisions of Forest Conservation Act.
The Chief Minister directed that a comprehensive scheme should be chalked out to upgrade degraded forests. He directed to chalk out an action plan keeping immense potential of eco-tourism in view. He directed to adopt scientific methods to ensure that tigers and other wild animals do not enter populated areas. He directed to make system of online payment to labourers practical and transparent so that labourers face no problems. Appreciating work of Joint Forest Management Committees, the Chief Minister directed to hold convention of these committees once a year. The meeting was informed that Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country where committee members have been appointed their secretaries instead of Forest Rangers. He said that problems of forest dwellers should be solved with humanitarian approach. The Chief Minister also directed to pay special attention to forest protection and develop a mechanism for quality control.
The meeting was informed that Kanha Tiger Reserve has won the first and Satpura Tiger Reserve the second prize under Bio-Diversity Awards of UNDP and Union Ministry for Environment and Forests. Widespread plantation work will be undertaken in state’s forests. About 7.50 crore saplings will be planted in July next. It was informed that a group of 5 tigers has been seen drinking water together in a lake in Ratapani. Number of grasslands is being increased in the area to increase the number of antelopes there. Four targeted sets of SHG beneficiaries under forest-based industries will grow bamboos, medicinal and aromatic plants. Works under PPP mode are being done for eco-tourism in Ralamandal in Indore, Beehar in Rewa and Araniya in Dewas.
Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shri Ajay Nath, Principal Secretary to CM Shri Manoj Shrivastava, in-charge Principal Secretary Forests Shri Radheshyam Julaniya, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Anil Oberoy and departmental officers were present on the occasion.
