Approach as per Requirement of the Field Situation : Chief Secretary

Bhubaneswar, 9 /7 ( Odisha Samachar Bureau ) - Develop open forests to medium density forests with appropriate approaches for plantation and regeneration directed Chief Secretary Sri Jugal Kishore Mohapatra while presiding over the High Power Committee Meeting of Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project in Secretariat conference hall today. Sri Mohapatra advised the project authorities to adopt a flexible working plan approach and plant that number of trees which a particular situation needs to be developed to a medium forest of 60% to 70% density. Chief Secretary has also advised them that along with plantation, protective measures should be taken to save the plantation and natural regeneration from biotic interventions. The Department has been asked to track the patches where interventions have been done through Google Map and project the difference in regular intervals. Reviewing the performance of eco-tourism projects at Chotkei in Satkosia range being managed with the help of village level eco tourism committees, Sri Mohapatra advised OFSDS to add another 5 eco-tourism cottages. At present 5 cottages are functioning throughout the year providing good livelihood opportunities to local community. These cottages have earned more than 22 lakhs out of which 2.20 lakhs have been shared with village community. Eco-Tourism destination has been developed at Chhotkea and Gointi in Satkosia Division, Mandasaru in Phulbani Division and Bichitrapur in Balasore Division. 3 other eco-tourism sites are under development at Gandahati and Khasada in Parlakhemundi Division and at Baliput in Satkosia division. Chief Secretary advised OSFDC to link up these eco-tourism projects with hoteliers and tour operators for further promotion. Distribution of fuel efficient smokeless Chulla has been a successful intervention in this scheme. Available data shows till end of financial year 2012-13 80,795 chullas have been installed in 789 Vana Sanrakshyana Samitis (VSS). The chullas are prepared by the local community. As such, also provides income generating opportunities to the people. Chief Secretary has advised Pr. Secretary Forests & Environment Sri Raj Kumar Sharma present in the meeting to replicate this techniques in other forest division areas. It may be of worth mention that Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project is being implemented by Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society( OFSDS) with the assistance from JICA. The project aims at restoration of degraded forests and improving the income level of local community by promoting sustainable forest management, capacity enhancement of the community, and creating alternative livelihood options for them. Initially the project was planned for 7 years from 2006-07 to 2012-13. Looking at the encouraging improvement and positive results JICA has extended the project up to 2014-15. By now the project has roped in 2379 VSS for execution of major interventions in JFM mode in 11 forest divisions namely Angul, Baliguda, Bonai, Deogarh, Paralakhemundi, Jeypore, Phulbani, Keonjhar, Koraput, Rayagada and Rourkela. Besides, 52 Environment Development Committees have been made fully functional in 3 Wild Life Divisions viz. Balasore WL, Bhadrak WL, and Satkosia WL. Available data shows total fund available under the project including State Govt. share is Rs.605.62 cr. out of which around Rs.568 cr. have been utilized up to 2012-13. In forest Management under JFM mode ANR has been made in 1,55,045 Hector against the target of 1,38,000 Hector, block plantation has been done in 40,943 Hector against the target of 39,650 Hector and Mangrove has been grown in 2,769 Hectors against the target of 2,160 Hectors. Similarly under Non-JFM mode artificial regeneration has been done in 12,932 Hectors against the target of 19,000 Hector, Casuarinas has been developed in 141 Hectors. Demarcation of Forest boundaries has been done across 2,461 K.M. 16 water bodies have been developed bio-diversity management.. In income generation activities 81 clusters have been developed with more than 11,000 members of 1039 SHGs’. These clusters are dealing with 16 types of commodities of which Tamarind, Siali leaf plate, Mahua, Sal leaf and Hill groom are the principal once. The Committee has approved a budget outlay of Rs.1449 Million for 2013-14. The principal activities proposed for 2013-14 include capacity buildings of VSS, Bio-diversity management, Forest management, Farm forestry development, Infrastructure development and Forest researches. Out of this Government share is around Rs.330 Million. Chief Secretary Sri Mohapatra opened a book on Mangrove forest and Annual Activity Report published by OFSDS on this occasion.

Additional Chief Secretary, Sri Tara Dutt, Secretary, Panchayati Raj Sri D.K. Singh, PCCF

Sri P.N. Padhi, Director, OFSDS Sri Vinod Kumar along with other Senior Officers participated in the discussion.

U.K.Mohapatra,

PRO to Chief Secretary