TD rights in HP to be rationalised, says minister

Shimla, May 17 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur today said the state government was willing to rationalise TD rights to limit tree felling in the state.

''About 40,000 to 45,000 trees are cut each year due to the TD rights provided to the people of the state. There is a need to rationalise the TD rights policy,'' he said, while addressing a press conference here.

Mr Singh said the policy had to be rationalised to plug the loopholes and minimise the cutting of trees in the state.

About six lakh trees were cut during the last few years in the state due to the various power projects being set up, he said, adding that 12 lakh new saplings were planted with 80 per cent survival rate.

Refuting reports in a section of the press that the forest cover in the state had decreased over the last few years, he said instead the area under forests had increased.

The minister said the state government had sought a clarification from the Centre on a report that said that forest cover had decreased in the state.

''The Centre had now clarified that the forest cover had instead increased in the last few years,'' he added.

UNI AS HS YA KN1746