The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Scheme to increase tree cover

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 03, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Scheme to increase tree cover

Special Correspondent

Preference will be given to small and marginal farmers

CHENNAI: With a view to increasing the tree cover outside forest areas in a big way, the State Government is to launch a scheme in the current financial year at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

Under the scheme, lands available in the State, including wastelands in private farm holdings, would be brought under tree cover. About 50,000 acres of private lands would be brought under the scheme and preference would be given to small and marginal farmers.

Farmers would be given quick-yielding and profitable drought-resistant timber species.

The scheme was expected to boost the rural economy by raising the income levels.

At the same time, it would meet the demand for timber, resulting in forest conservation, said Forest Minister N. Selvaraj in the Assembly on Wednesday.

In connection with the function to mark the golden jubilee of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's entry into the legislature, the department would distribute 50 lakh drought-resistant tree species free to small and marginal farmers at a cost of Rs. 2 crore.

Under the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project Phase II, being implemented in the State with the assistance of Japan Bank for International Cooperation, about 45,250 hectares of degraded forests in 205 fringe villages were covered in the last financial year at a cost of Rs 101.42 crore.

In the current year, it was planned to cover 51,500 hectares of degraded forests in 230 fringe villages at a cost of Rs 115.22 crore.

Under the national cyclone risk mitigation project, it had been proposed to raise 500 hectares of shelterbelt plantation and 500 hectares of mangrove plantation in the Gulf of Mannar at a cost of Rs 550.27 lakh.

Concession to farmers

Following requests from people living in fringe villages, the Government decided not to collect road tax from farmers who were using forest roads for transporting their agricultural produce. Similarly, private landowners, who had to get permit for transporting tress cut in their lands hereafter need not require any such permit.

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