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ENVIRONMENT

tion and immunization. Apart from of about 29.71 crore has been made on ple aware of the importance of forests
this, a Rapid Forest Fire Force has been this project this year. and the rights of girls by planting sap-
formed by connecting the citizens of The community forest promotion lings in the name of a newborn girl. As
the state with the fire alert SMS service scheme has been started to actively a mark of tribute to the former Prime
based on the satellite of Forest Survey connect the local people in the forest Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee,
of India so that the information of for- management. Under this, saplings will Atal Bihari Vajpyee on his 95th birth
est fire can be immediately reported be planted on the vacant forest area anniversary, Himachal Chief Minister,
and appropriate action could be taken.. near the villages, and people will also Jai Ram Thakur launched the scheme
do the work of land and forest enrich- from the late leader’s house at Prini
he Van Mitra scheme has been ment. The state government has also near Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
started with a view to inculcat- launched another scheme named Van Under the scheme, five tree saplings
T ing the spirit of conservation of Samriddhi-Jan Samridhi, which aims would be presented to the families of
forest and environment among school to create employment opportunities by newly born girl child along with other
students. Under this, the students are selling wild herbs and promoting their kit. Significantly, Vajpayee had special
allocating a fixed forest area to plus two production from private land. connection with Himachal Pradesh
schools for plantation and looking af- Under this scheme, arrangements and considered the hill state as his sec-
ter the saplings. Last year, 228 schools are being made for the maintenance, ond home. Often he would spare time
and 164.30 hectares of land from his busy schedule and visit
were selected and 166830 sap- his Himachal abode at Pirni
lings were planted under this in Manali. The logo of Ek Buta
scheme. During this financial At present, about two-third of Beti Ke Naam was also been
year, 146 schools and 131.5 hec- the State’s geographical area of launched by the Chief Minister.
tares of land have been identi- Pine leaves are the main
fied and a target of planting about 55,673 square kms is under cause of fire. A new policy has
130100 saplings. forest cover. However, increased been formulated to collect these
The Forest department is leaves and remove them from
also playing an important role economic activity in the past forestland. Under this, a provi-
in promoting eco-tourism. An decade has created substantial sion has been made to provide
amount of Rs. 18.18 crore has 50 per cent grant (maximum
been allocated for Janjehli area demand for forest produce and 25 lakh) on capital investment
of Mandi district for eco tour- resultantly forest land has come for setting up industry based on
ism development. This amount pine leaves. Special efforts are
will be spent on the improve- under severe pressure from industry being made to remove Lantana
ment of trekking routes, for- from forestland. Last year, Lan-
est rest houses, public facilities and residential needs tana was removed from an area
and forest checks. The Union of 4567 hectares, while this year
Ministry of Environment and a target has been set to remove
Forests has provided an amount of ru- value addition and marketing of herbs Lantana from an area of 5000 hectares.
pees three crores each for Manali and after forming a group of local residents Himachal Pradesh has also set up its
Nachan for the development of natural who collect herbs. The scheme pro- first Forest Police Station “Van Thana”,
parks and walking paths. Apart from vides for a grant of up to 25 per cent to a specialized police station of the For-
this, camping sites have been started promote herb-based pharmaceutical est Department to check illegal activi-
at 25 places to promote eco-tourism in manufacturing industries. Apart from ties including tree felling in the forest
the state. this, provision has also been made to areas of the State. With this Himachal
The Himachal Pradesh Forest Ecol- give incentives related to herb trading Pradesh has become the second state
ogy Management and Livelihood Im- to individual private entrepreneurs. in the country after Madhya Pradesh
provement Project of 800 crores fund- The scheme is currently being imple- to take this initiative. The specialized
ed by Japan International Cooperation mented in seven districts where groups Forest Police Stations aim to conserve
Agency (JICA) is being implemented in of local people have been formed and rich forest cover by taking preventive
18 forest divisions of six districts of the 45.825 lakh has been spent. This year, and punitive measures against poach-
state. During 2018, 11.58 crores were 200 lakh has been allocated for this ers. The specialized forest police sta-
spent under the scheme which aims scheme. tion would have duly trained officials in
at increasing the forest area and pro- The state government has launched investigative skills.
viding local people with forest-based another new scheme named “Ek Buta
livelihood opportunities. A provision Beti Ke Naam”, which aims to make peo- LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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