HimVani
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh had been selected for a reforestation project under the Bio-carbon Revenue Project which is financed through the Rs 365-crore Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project (MHWDP). Stating this at a meeting of senior officers and a World Bank delegation, forest minister JP Nadda today said that the government was committed to increase green cover in the state.
He said that Himachal Pradesh had emerged as the first model state in the country for preparing the project design document of Bio-Carbon Revenue Project for final approval of the World Bank authorities.
The Minister stated that 602 panchayats in 10 Districts, excluding all tribal areas of the state, had been brought under MHWDP. He said that World Bank was contributing Rs 270 crore whereas the share of the state government and targeted beneficiaries would be Rs 67.50 crore and Rs. 27.50 crore, respectively.
The minister said that reforestation activities would be carried out on 12,000 hectares of land under this project on community forest and private lands. He said plantations would be done on the basis of soil texture, climatic conditions, area-based needs and requirements of the people, which would go a long way in generating revenue and income to the owner besides protecting the eco-system. This target would be achieved within the next three years, he added.
Nadda further assured on behalf of the government that all possible help and cooperation would be extended to the World Bank by the team of state government officials involved in speedy and perfect implementation of the project.