HP first to implement Bio-Carbon Sub Project in Asia

Shimla, Feb 23 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh has become the first State in Asia to implement the Bio-Carbon Sub Project, State Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur today said.

He said this while interacting with a delegation of the World Bank, headed by Danial Selan.

The delegation apprised him that the Bank had agreed in principle to implement the Bio-Carbon Sub-Project under Mid Himalayan Watershed Development Project in the state.

Mr Thakur said Mid Himayalan Watershed Development Project was being implemented in 602 Panchayats of 42 Developmental Blocks of 10 districts of the state.

The plantation was the main component of the project, which had a provision of providing a sum of Rs 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 per hectare to those panchayats who played a significant role in the growth of plantation on community land, degraded forests or private land and protect them, he said.

He said the amount would be provided to the panchayat concerned for ten years, provided the World Bank was satisfied with the plantations in the area.

The main objective of the project was to promote plantation of local species in areas where no growth of plants was witnessed after 1990 besides protecting environment, he said.

The Forest Minister said 12,000-hectare land would be brought under the plantation in the next three years under Mid Himalayan Watershed Development Project.

UNI