In a marathon meeting the state Cabinet cleared the new Forest Policy, pegged the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat at Rs 640 per quintal, created 1,256 posts of teachers in Tribal Department- run schools and took back 2,243 acre prime land from BHEL in Bhopal apart from a few other decisions, said Industries Minister Kailash Chawla at a Press briefing.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Babulal Gaur cleared a new Forest Policy for the state that provides for handing over forest land to non-government entities including corporate houses for afforestation.

The forestation could either be on BOT basis or on royalty basis. The sector would now be able to get forest land for longer periods for commercial forestation.

"There are large tracts of vacant forest land that could not be conserved or afforested due to paucity of resources. The new policy would pave the way for expansion of green cover over Madhya Pradesh," said Forest Minister Chaudhary Chandrabhan Singh.

This apart, the new policy prohibits conversion in land use areas notified as green belts in urban areas. Furthermore, the Tree Protection Act that was hitherto implied only in urban areas has been expanded to all forest areas. To stop poaching and illegal tree felling, the Forest Department's field staff would be armed. Making provisions for illegal tree felling and mining, the law would be amended to punish those who provoke the activities.

To deal with forest-related crime, special courts would be set under the new policy.

A sub-committee headed by Water Conservation Minister Anup Mishra, will give recommendations about necessity of forest land and its arrangement and system. This has been as per the Indian forest (Madhya Pradesh amendment) Bill. The Bill has got recommendations of increasing the penalty from Rs 1,000 to Rs 15,000 in forest-related crime, returning the seized material after taking the cash as penalty and settling the small disputes by compromise.

The Cabinet also approved Madhya Pradesh tendu leaves (trade regulation) and Madhya Pradesh Forest Product (Trade Regulation) Bills. Clearing the Wheat Procurement Policy the Cabinet pegged the rates at Rs 640 per quintal. The Government would procure five lakh tonnes of wheat. To facilitate greater returns for wheat farmers the Government has waived the ban on transporting of their produce in and outside the state.

Taking another major decision the state Government has decided to employ 1,256 teachers of different categories in Tribal Department- run schools. The Government would appoint 54 principals, 83 contract teachers grade I, 567 grade II and 352 grade III teachers. Similarly, 127 new posts have been created in rural engineering services and divisional offices to appoint them in three newly-created districts, Anuppur, Ashoknagar and Burhanpur.

The state Government also took prime 2,243.21 acres of land from BHEL's possession, responding to a proposal moved by the latter. All rights on the land would be of the Government.

Of the acquired land commercial land would be transferred to the Housing Board that in turn would develop and sell the property. From the property it would rehabilitate slums on BHEL land. He also said that the state Government would consider the proposals of allotting land to the BHEL employees coopertive housing committees.

The Government also approved Rs 182.37 crore for the construction of five roads and Rs 115.07 crore for making the two-lane Anandnagar-Gandhinagar road a 16 km double lane road.

The Cabinet also decided to give Rs 20,000 to the Bansagar oustees, if they have not got the land.

Furthermore, the Cabinet also cleared a proposal to grant Cabinet Minister status and perks to former Chief Ministers.