35.48 pc of State land under forest

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35.48 pc of State land under forest

 

By A Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 15 – The State has now 35.48 per cent of its

geographical area under forest covers as per the 2003 Forest Report

of Forest Survey of India. The 2001 report of the Forest Survey of

India showed that the State had 35.33 per cent of its area under

forest covers. So, the forest cover in the State has increased by

0.15 per cent, said Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain

on the floor of the State Assembly today. He was replying to a

question put by AGP's Alaka Sarma.

 

He also told the House in reply a question from AGP's Keshav Mahanta,

that so far 15,217 tress were felled in the process of widening of

the National Highways No 31,36, 37 and 54 between Sreerampur and

Silchar. However, these trees were ornamental in nature and they had

less commercial value.

 

Selling the timber of these trees, the Forest Department has

collected revenue of Rs 54,51, 385. However, the complete list of the

revenue being collected from the timber of these trees could be

supplied to the House after the completion of the process of felling

all the trees along the NHs, he said.

 

There would be a drive to plant trees along these NHs with the funds

from the NH Authority of India. The drive would be launched after

completion of the four lanning of the NHs through the Social Forestry

Department, said the Minister.

 

Sanchi: The Forest Minister told the House in reply to a question

from AGP's Girindra Kumar Barua that as per the international and

inland export and import policies, deals in the timber of wild Sanchi

or Agaru and its oil are banned. However, dealing in the Agaru

products grown in private land is not banned. The Agar industry in

the State can deal in the products of the privately grown Agaru, he

said.

 

In several districts of the State, Agaru is grown privately. Some of

the private growers have their own estates too. But as per the Assam

Wood-based Industries (Establishment and Regulation) Rule, 2000, the

agar industries should be located in the Industrial Estates. If this

provision is honored, then only the Government would be in a position

to extend support to the agar units. The Government is trying to make

this provision mandatory, the Minister said.

 

But he clarified in reply to another question put by AGP's Prabin

Gogoi that the State Government had no policy concerning the Agaru-

based business. The Government has however, not banned felling of the

Agaru trees grown on private land. The provisions of the Assam

(Control of Felling and Removal of Trees from Non-Forest Land) Rules-

2002 allow felling of such Agaru trees. The owners of such trees

should secure permission from the authorities concerned for the

purpose of felling the trees, he said.