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Plea to help remove encroachments

SHIMLA, DEC 13. The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, has appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with the Government in removing encroachments in the Government and forest lands so that the same could be utilised for the benefit of poor and deserving.

Presiding over the closing ceremony of the 10th Himachal Pradesh Forest Department Sports and Duty meet at Chamba yesterday, he said that his Government was committed to remove all encroachments on the Government lands and effective steps were afoot in this direction.

``The endeavour of the Government would meet success with the cooperation of the people,'' he said.

Mr Singh said that the state has been blessed with immense natural wealth, with forest cover being a major component. He said that his Government had completely banned green felling in the state, which had resulted in increased forest cover measured at about 1860 sq km according to satellite survey.

Kulu district ranked first in this respect, he said.

The Chief Minister stressed upon the need for formulation of a policy by the Centre to compensate the States, which had adopted preservation of forests as their top priority.

The state had identified a hydel potential exceeding 21,000 MWs, which would be exploited, while ensuring that there was no degradation of forests. -- UNI

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Plea to help remove encroachments

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