Social forestry on private farms

Times of India , Monday, April 23, 2007
Correspondent : Kunal Doley
NAGPUR: Private farms in the state will soon have plantations by the social forestry department. The new project will come up on 50,000 acres land in 36 districts of Maharashtra this monsoon season.

Social forestry department basically deals with afforestation and plantation to increase the green cover in the state.

Talking to ToI on Tuesday, Prakash Thosre, director, social forestry, Maharashtra, said, the basic purpose is spreading greenery, providing employment at the doorstep and giving economic security to the land-holders.

Identification of land has been completed. Planting of teak stumps, bamboo, jatropha and eucalyptus will be permitted. The project will be implemented under the employment guarantee scheme (EGS), Thosar informed.

When asked about the hassles in felling teak and bamboo, Thosre said, "We will see to it that rules are liberalised and hassles are removed. A bamboo policy is already under consideration of the state government."

ECO CLUBS: Thosre, who was in the city to review activities of eco clubs, said, a state steering committee to boost National Green Corps (NGC), set up to spread environmental awareness, has taken charge on January 18, 2007.

The committee will be headed by principal secretary (environment) Sharvari Gokhale. Principal secretaries of other departments will be the members while social forestry director will be the member-secretary. There will also committees at the district level.

As per the policy decision, 'master teachers training programme' will be launched soon under which 72 teachers from entire state will be trained on various environmental issues.

These teachers will then train students. "The theme is also to identify areas like disposal of household and hospital waste and air pollution," S G Tembhurnikar, joint director, social forestry, stated.

During the last four years, eco clubs have been formed in 8,844 schools in the state to develop environment-friendly attitude among the people by way of providing resource material and motivating members by organising rallies, human chains, tree plantation, debates etc.

It has been proposed to rope in 250 schools in each district. Resource material will be prepared looking into the requirement of rural, adivasi and city students.

"Sowing the seeds of environment conservation in the minds of students is our prime goal. Once their minds are ignited, results will automatically come. We plan to give at least 10 seeds for sowing to each of the 4.50 lakh student-members," Thosre said.

The director further informed that Rs 2.5 crore will be spared by the centre for activities of eco clubs and each school will get Rs 2,500. States like Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are doing well, he added.

 
SOURCE : Times of India, Monday, April 23, 2007
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us