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In two years, forest cover in Rajasthan up by 85 sqkm, says minister
State forest and environment minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar claimed that in last four years, Rs 1270 crore has been spent on afforestation and protection and conserving plants
The forest cover in Rajasthan has increased by 85sqkm in two years — from 2013 to 2015 — and the figure is likely to go up in the near future, state forest and environment minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar claimed Monday.
“At present, state has 9.5% forest land of which 4.5% is actual forest. Satellite images provided by central government show an increase of 85sqkm forest cover in the state,” Khimsar said.
He claimed that in last four years, Rs 1270 crore has been spent on afforestation and protection and conserving plants. Under this the plantation work has been done in 223,000 hectare land.
Addressing the media on completion of four years of government, Khimsar said, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is known best for the big cats and the government is working on developing Sariska on the same lines.
On relocation of tigers to Mukundra Tiger Hill Reserve in Kota, he said the National Tiger Conservation Authority has given permission for introducing three big cats. “We will be shifting two — a male and a female — soon. The prey base has been created and enclosures prepared. We need to relocate four villages for which land has been identified,” he said.
He said the revenue due to forests — sanctuaries, zoo, biological parks – has went up from Rs 13.96 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 34.67 crore in 2016-17.
Khimsar said five villages inside protected areas have been relocated to enable the inhabitants join the mainstream of development. To compensate for the lost opportunity of collecting fuel wood from Tiger Reserves, 11,834 subsidized LPG connections were given in 2015-16. Under the revised Fuel Wood Free Village scheme, 46,312 free LPG connections were allotted in 2016-17, and 50,000 granted this year
On government considering increasing the relocation package for villages located in the sanctuaries, additional principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden, GV Reddy said the state government has hiked the package to Rs 20 lakh, double the amount was being offered since 2008.
