Forest cover in state increases above national

Ranchi: Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that in the last four years the forest cover in the state has increased by 3 percent which is a big achievement for the state. The forest density in the state and area under forest cover has increased in Jharkhand as area under forest cover was more than 33% which is above the national average which is a positive outcome of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Mr Das said while addressing the meeting of the state 20 point programme committee at the project building here.

He said that expansion in the forest area was a big achievement for the people of Jharkhand and pointed that the decrease in forest cover in the country and in the state was a matter of concern but in the last 4.5 years due to the efforts of the state government and the people the forest cover has increased which is a good news.

The Chief Minister said that it was a matter of satisfaction that the dense forest area in the state has increased by 214 square kilometers. He said that many schemes of the central government especially Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has played an important role in forest conservation in the state as due to this scheme in the rural area the use of gas increased due to which less damage was caused to the forest for cutting woods to be used for or burning and preparing food.

He said that in the last 4 years massive plantation drive has also been undertaken in the state and to establish coordination with the environment Mukhyamantri Jan Van Yojana has been started whose implementation has shown positive results in the area of environment protection.

He said that under this scheme massive efforts are being made to increase the forest cover and even plantation is being encouraged on the private land which is also increasing the income of the farmers and is also reducing pressure on the forests of the state.