Ranchi: Union Rural Development Minister
Jairam Ramesh on Saturday suggested that the dense Saranda forest in
Jharkhand should be made a `No-Go` zone as it is a Sal forest.
"I am not in favour of mining in the dense Saranda
forest as it a Sal forest and sal takes a long time to grow.
My personal view is that Saranda forest should be made a no-go
area, and utmost caution should be taken while giving
permission for mining," he said at a press conference when
asked his view on mining in the sal forest.
When he was the forest minister, Ramesh added, he gave
permission only to the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
with certain conditions that included spending two percent of
its net profit on development of mining areas.
"And that is the result that we are able to distribute
cycles, transistor radios sponsored by the SAIL now," he said,
adding 7000 families would be given cycles, solar lantern and
radios in 56 villages situated in the Saranda forest.
Ramesh, who visited Chhotanagra situated in the midst
of Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district and interacted
with the tribals there, said development in the villages would
be visible in the next two to three years under the Saranda
Action Plan.
PTI
