The Hindu : National : Centre launches new scheme for forest regeneration

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Centre launches new scheme for forest regeneration

Special Correspondent

A meeting of State Forests Ministers has been convened on August 18
Eighteen districts in as many States selected for pilot projects

NEW DELHI: The Union Environment and Forest Ministry has launched a new scheme for Accelerated Programme of Restoration and Regeneration of Forest Cover.

Announcing this here on Thursday, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said the scheme was announced in the Budget proposals for 2009-10 with an allocation of Rs.500 crore. A meeting of the State Forests Ministers has also been convened on August 18 to discuss the scheme and its implementation.

Mr. Ramesh claimed that the scheme was the initiative of the Prime Minister who had expressed his desire to have a ‘green cover’ over all the schemes. The Budget allocation for Environment and Forests for 2009-10 is Rs.2,129 crore, an increase of Rs.422 crore compared to last year.

In addition, the process of convergence between the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme and the schemes of the Ministry of Environment and Forests has also commenced and guidelines have been drawn up for the same. Eighteen districts in as many States have been selected for pilot projects, the Minister said.

Some States have also begun to earmark a part of their NREGA allocations for forestry-related works. These include Andhra Pradesh (Rs.500 crore), Gujarat (Rs.205 crore) and Karnataka (Rs.300 crore).

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