Orissa to restore 40,000 hectares of degraded land: Naveen

Bhubaneswar, Jul 05 (UNI) Orissa has embarked upon an ambitious plan to restore 40,000 hectares of degraded land during the 10th Five Year Plan, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said here today.

Participating in a function organised in the Stewart School to celebrate the 57th Bana Mahostav divas, Mr Patnaik said the state government would involve the community to protect and manage the forest resources in the state.

He said Forest Conservation Samitees in the state have taken the responsibility of guarding and protecting nearly 9000 sq kms forest in Orissa.

The Chief Minister said soon the Orissa Forest Development project would be taken up in the state with assistance from the Japan Bank of International Corporation (JBIC) where villagers would be involved in the management and protection of the forest surrounding their village.

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