Page 50 - 31JAN2020E3
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Himachal schemes to


                       increase green cover


                     bring positive results!





                 he new schemes launched                                  rently about two third of the State’s ge-
                 by the Forest Department                                 ographical area of about 55,673 square
                 of Himachal Pradesh Gov-                                 kms is under forest cover. However,
                 ernment have not only in-                                increased economic activity in the past
         T creased the green cover but                                    decade has created substantial demand
         have also been able to provide liveli-                           for forest produce and resultantly for-
         hood to local dwellers. Official sources                         est land has come under severe pres-
         told that special plantation campaigns                           sure from industry and residential
         are being carried out to increase the   Extensive publicity campaign   needs. The State aims to increase the
         green cover of the state. During year   is being conducted in areas   area under cover to at least 50 per cent.
         2018, 88,53,532 saplings were planted   sensitive to forest fire and   Sources informed that for the first
         on 9785 hectares of forest land in the                           time in the state, extensive publicity
         hill State.                       people are being made aware    campaign is being conducted in areas
           In 2019, 65,34,217 saplings were   to save forests from fire   sensitive to forest fire and people are
         planted on about 7499 hectares of for-                           being made aware to save forests from
         est land under the special plantation   by various means, reports   fire by various means. A new manual
         campaign in Himachal Pradesh. Cur-      charanjit ahuja          has been created for forest fire preven-


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