Tree Planting: CPWD, NHAI Officials to Face Criminal Cases

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Apr 13: In a move that should please the environmentalists and green brigade as punch, the B S Yeddyurappa regime has decided to file criminal cases against Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials if they failed to take up plantation programme on either side of roads widened or developed by them in three months time from June.

Karnataka’s Forest Minister C H Vijayashankar and Public Works Minister C M Udasi, both of whom are considered quite close to the Chief Minister, disclosed the Governemnt’s decision on Wednesday.

The two ministers, who held a high level official meeting on Wednesday decided to serve notices to CPWD and NHAI directing them to take up plantation programme on either side of highway roads developed by them by felling trees.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayashankar the State Forest Department officials too would be directed to take massive plantation programme on roadside from June month onwards as part of the drive to increase the green cover in the State.

As per the Forest Policy, the State PWD has to give compensation of Rs 750 per tree to the Forest Department for trees felled during road widening.

In a concerted move to prevent rampant felling of trees by the PWD in the State, the Government has decided to ensure that the PWD officials must consult the Forest Department officials before cutting trees for road works.

Trees located only one side of the road would be felled. In unavoidable circumstances, when felling of trees becomes necessary trees of both sides of the road would be removed, the minister said.

CPWD, NHAI haven’t planted any trees in 10 years

Deploring the carelessness attitude towards the forest and environment by the CPWD and NHAI officials, Vijayashankar said central agencies have not taken up plantation programme in the State for the last 10 yeaRs

As per the policy, the central agencies have to plant one sapling for felling a tree for the purpose of widening of roads or national highways, he said.

Learning from the past experience, the State Forest Department has decided to allow central agencies to fell trees on a conditional basis that they have to plant saplings for number of trees felled for road works, he said.

The Minister said the State Government was keen to ensure that the forest cover was raised to 33 per cent of the forest cover and declared that the Forest Department will be distributing 1.5 crore saplings free of cost to farmers in the coming monsoon season.

Farmers to be paid for planting trees

Under the agro-forestry promotion scheme, saplings would be distributed to farmers and the department would give annual maintenance grant of Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 20 each for first three years for each saplings planed by farmers.

The scheme would be implemented with the active cooperation of village forest committees and self-help groups, Vijayashankar said.

There was no bar on number of saplings to be distributed to farmers.Farmers themselves have to choose the variety and order the number of saplings by registration at the gram panchayat level.

All varieties of saplings would be distributed to farmers. A survey would be taken up soon to assess the demand for saplings in the next two years, he added.