* Recommends ‘Green Bonus’ as an addition to funds allocated to Vidarbha’s development plan
By Kartik Lokhande
The
High Level Committee on Balanced Regional Development Issues in
Maharashtra has made an important recommendation, which, if accepted and
implemented by the State and Central Government, will boost Vidarbha’s
development in a big way. The committee, popularly known as Kelkar
Committee, has recommended a ‘review’ of Forest Conservation Act and
‘revisiting’ the concept of Zudpi Jungle.
Vidarbha has 26,98,800
hectares of forest land, which accounts for 53.29 per cent of forest
area of entire Maharashtra. Forests in Vidarbha are home to a variety of
flora and fauna and attract considerable number of visitors each year.
These forests are rich in wildlife and tiger population. However, there
are many stretches wherein the forests have been classified as ‘Zudpi
Jungle’. As a result, these conservation efforts over the years are
proving to be the biggest hurdles in execution of various developmental
initiatives including irrigation projects and industries.
Interestingly,
Kelkar Committee has observed in clear words that the forests of
Vidarbha ‘are construed as non-performing assets’. Conservation need not
mean non-utilisation of forest resource, it has stated. While pointing
out ‘legacy issues’, the committee has stressed upon the need to
‘review’ the Forest Conservation Act. It has recommended review of the
law so that while keeping the inherent logic intact, it does not become a
‘completely anti-development’ Act. Further, it has underlined the need
for ‘revisiting’ the concept of Zudpi Jungle. With their traditional
knowledge, local people can use Zudpi Jungle for productive purposes
which should be encouraged, it has added.
At the same time, Kelkar
Committee has observed that forests in Vidarbha could be converted into
economic assets, and also, as carbon sinks that are valued worldwide.
Forest produce, especially non-timber products such as bamboo, can be
developed into a major source of revenue for the interior villages.
There is a need to encourage community-based co-operative industries
that would create value-added products such as bamboo-based furniture
that have a great deal of potential.
The panel has called for
adoption of a two-pronged strategy of conservation towards preservation
of planet Earth and forest (carbon) credits towards development of
Vidarbha to achieve ‘optimum utilisation’ of this rare and rich
resource. Currently, Central Government is rewarding environmental
services of forests in Vidarbha through payment of ‘Green Bonus’.
However, as it forms a part of consolidated fund of Maharashtra, Kelkar
Committee has recommended that the bonus should be ‘ring-fenced’ for
development of Vidarbha as an ‘additionality’ to the funds allocated to
the Region’s Development Plan.
Irrigation can very well be used for
developing forest land, thereby reducing the gestation period for
growing plantations, the committee stated.
Interestingly, these
observations gel well with those of Vidarbha Development Board (VDB) in
its latest report tabled before the State Legislature during recently
held winter session. VDB had pointed out that work of 150
under-construction projects was ‘at stand still for the release of
forest land’ of 20,088 hectares. For want of forest clearance to these
projects, irrigation potential of 14,89,263 hectares could not be
created so far, it added. VDB report had called as ‘erroneous’ the
notion that forest area was reduced due to acquisition of forest land
for irrigation projects.
“If Forest Conservation Act of 1980 becomes
a hurdle to development of irrigation, it needs to be changed,” VDB had
recommended strongly. In VDB’s opinion, new forest could be created
through afforestation on much more land than that acquired. Similarly,
it observed, if water storages were created through irrigation projects,
‘quantity and quality’ of forest in the surroundings would improve. New
plantation was possible and water was made available to wild animals in
the command area of the projects.
(28-12-14)
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