Patna, June 24: The Bihar government has submitted a Rs 43.13 crore project to the Centre to bring about 32,000 hectares of land under forest cover in five districts of the state, Minister for Forest and Environment Jagdanand Singh said today. Replying to a short notice question by Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha of the BJP in the state assembly, Singh said the state government had sent a proposal to bring 4,000 hectares in Munger, 8,600 hectares in Banka, 6,235 hectares in Jamui, 6,000 hectares in Gaya and 8,000 hectares in Rohtas districts under forest cover at an estimated cost of Rs 43.13 crore on a priority basis.

He said micro planning for increasing the forest cover of Valmikinagar Tiger Project in west-Champaran district was almost complete and would be sent to the Centre very soon for approval.

Singh said a Forest Development Authority (FDA) on the lines of District Rural Development Authority (DRDA) had been constituted in the state which would be in direct touch with the Centre and implement the schemes to enhance the forest cover in Bihar after receiving the funds for increasing the forest cover. The minister said so far 475 village and forest management and conservation committees had been constituted that was looking after the forest conservation in an area of 2655 square kms and bringing more areas under forest cover. Besides, an eco task force had also been constituted to keep a tab on illegal felling of trees, he added.

Bureau Report