7-member JBIC team arrive in Tripura

Agartala, Apr 28 (UNI) A seven-member team of Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) led by Shiro Arai has arrived here to make an on-spot study of Rs 311 crore Project for afforestation and other projects in Tripura.

The project titled ''Special Assistance for Project Formulation of Tripura Forest Environment and Poverty Alleiviation Programme'' was placed before the JBIC team by the Tripura forest department few months back.

Before finalising the project, the Authorities of the JBIC, who arrived here yesterday, decided to conduct intensive study on various aspects on forest environment and poverty alleviation, Tripura Forest Minister and Tribal Welfare Minister Jitendra Chowdhury told newspersons last night.

The team will hold talks with officials of Forest Department and the Chief Secretary today regarding the preliminary project. The Minister informed that the JBIC representatives will examine the possibility of maintaining ecological balance in the state with the creation of forest and employment generation.

The team will also visit different forest locations of the state and if satisfied, they will appoint an agency to prepare detailed project report, the minister said.

Earlier, Mr Izomi Kai, an official of the JBIC had visited the state to explore the feasibility of the study for the project and during his stay visited some places to have a firsthand knowledge about the state's forest wealth and its possibility.

The minister referring to protection of forest wealth from smuggling, said it is not possible to protect the forest by forest protection force only.

The Central Rural Development Ministry has allotted Rs 3 crore to the state for Jatropha cultivation. The Joint Forest Management committees and group villages will be given the responsibility of Jatropha cultivation, the Minister informed.

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