VISAKHAPATNAM: The Union ministry of environments and forests (MoEF) has selected Visakhapatnam circle for the implementation of its National Mission for a Green India (NMGI) on a pilot basis in the state. The massive afforestation programme aims at protecting and expanding the forest cover across the country.
Circle forest officials selected Paderu forest division and sent a formal proposal letter with detailed report of the forest cover of the division and its requirements to the MoEF through state forest officials. This follows instructions from the Union ministry to the state officials to send a detailed report of the forest cover of the circle and also the suggestion that one of the five forest divisions in the circle be selected for launching NMGI on a pilot basis in the state.
The chief conservator of forests for Visakhapatnam circle, A Bharat Kumar, said that a formal proposal report requested by the MoEF has been submitted and the department is awaiting the Union ministry's nod and funds for the project. "All arrangements have been made to start the programme. The ministry is likely to give its clearance and release Rs 25 crore by the end of May," Bharat told TOI.
The forest department has identified nearly 12,355 acres (approximately 50 sq km) of forest land spread across 3,600 tribal hamlets under 244 gram panchayats of 11 Agency mandals in Paderu for afforestation. Community organisations and local inhabitants such as tribals will be involved in NMGI, which mainly focuses on restoring forest that is degraded or lost because of shifting cultivation, improving the quality and density of forests, enhancing the ecosystem and restoration of biodiversity.
The programme includes construction of watersheds, scientific soil management, plantation of trees suiting the soil and environment and most importantly, engaging residents of the area.
"NMGI is a five-year programme. The MoEF is likely to expand the programme to all forest divisions across the state in a phased manner after examining the results of the programme in Paderu," Bharat said.
"It is learnt that about 50 hectares of forest cover has disappeared in the Paderu division. It is time to restore the degraded forest and NMGI would help the department to get back the forest cover," said a senior forest officer.
Visakhapatnam circle comprises five divisions, including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Narsipatnam and Paderu where nearly 200 hectares of forest was degraded, official sources revealed.
The Rs 46,000 crore NMGI is one of the eight missions of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. It is aimed at afforestation of 50,000 sq km of forest across the country and expansion of the forest cover from 23% to 33% of the country.
The forest department has identified nearly 12,355 acres (approximately 50 sq km) of forest land spread across 3,600 tribal hamlets under 244 gram panchayats of 11 Agency mandals in Paderu for afforestation.
