Bhubaneswar, Jan 12: Odisha is now the leading State in implementation of CAMPA and creation of compensatory afforestation with around 96 pc of achievement in the sector.
State Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has directed the officials of Forest department to accomplish the targets of Ama Jungle Yojana (AMY) by 2019 and enhance the capacity of forest officials through qualitative training.
He said a forest academy would soon be set up in the State to equip all forest officers and training institutes with required training materials. “This year, conservation of sacred groove of the tribes and supply of Unnatachulah have been included in the Annual Operation Plan.
The committee approved an ambitious Annual Plan of Operation (APO) for 2015-16 with the financial outlay of Rs 513 crore”, Padhi said.
A senior forest official said this is the biggest APO in the country for this year. According to the Chief Secretary, earlier target was fixed to create 59,936.526 ha compensatory afforestation as per the stipulations of compensatory afforestation rules.
“So far up to 2014-15 around 53,268.11 ha compensatory afforestation has already been done recording a performance level of 96 pc”, he said, adding target has been set to complete the balance 4, 046.97 hectare during 2015-16 APO.
Apart from this, security zone plantation and catchment area treatment plantation will be done over 1047 hectare, strip plantation will be done over 40,000 kms and 14,750 trees will be planted along the road sides”, he stated, adding a financial outlay of Rs 52.94 crore has been done for this purpose in the APO 2015-16.
