Gujarat seeks Central nod for ring road around Gir

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) Gujarat today asked the Centre tosanction funds for building a ring road around the famous GirSanctuary as part of efforts to protect and conserve AsiaticLions in the region.

Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Mangubhai Patelmade the demand during a meeting with Union Environment andForests Minister Jairam Ramesh here.

He asked Ramesh to approve Rs 600 crore for constructingring road around Gir Lion Sanctuary for protection andconservation of the lions.

During the meeting, Patel also requested Ramesh that theCompensatory Afforestation Management Fund (CAMPA) due toGujarat be released as soon as possible.

The Gujarat Government has a total provision of Rs 485crore for compensatory funds parked with Centre, whichincludes Rs 132.63 crore towards compensatory afforestationand Rs 349.72 crore towards net present value.

Patel said that adhoc CAMPA has been released so far bythe central government in two instalments for Gujaratamounting to Rs 24.96 crore and Rs 29.16 crore which was"utterly inadequate".

He also requested Ramesh to release fund for ''StateForest Development Agency'' and the ''Greening India Programme''schemes.

Gujarat Minister of State for Forest