Rs 103.35 cr spent on tree plantation in four years: Biswajit
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 21 2023: The government spent Rs 103.35 crore in tree plantation works from 2018-19 to 2021 22, according to forest and environment minister Thongam Biswajit.

Responding to a question from the opposition member K Ranjit on the first day of the budget session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, minister Biswajit told the House that 320.86 lakh tree saplings have been planted in the last four years with the survival rate record ed at 60 to 70 per cent.

MLA Ranjit queried if it is safe to assume that 231.60 lakh trees have survived out of the 320.86 lakh saplings, based on the reply of the minister.

Despite this, forest survey shows depletion of forest cover in the state, which contradicts the minister's reply, the MLA pointed out while enquiring if the minister could provide the survey report or remote sensing mapping report of the surviving saplings.

In response, the minister said that the survey report about the losing forest cover is not of recent development but a comparative statement since 1987.At the same time, there are reports of large-scale deforestation in Noney, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts during the peak of Covid-19 pandemic about two years ago.

As for the survey of the tree saplings planted recently, there is a mechanism to look after the saplings through local clubs and organisations.

Moreover, there is also a third party monitoring team so that dead plants could be replaced by new saplings.

He also said that the department has started using drones to identify deforested areas for taking up tree plantation works.

Opposition member Okram Surjakumar brought up questions related with pending pension benefits of retired government employees and why the government is taking around two years to release the GPF amount.

In response, chief minister N Biren said that the expenditure in releasing pension benefits to retired government employees is more than two times of the state's own revenue resources.

Expenditure for pension benefits for the current financial year is around Rs 3140 crore while the state's own revenue is only Rs 1750 crore.

As such, the government is facing financial burden in releasing pension benefits.

However, the government does not have any restrictions on any employee withdrawing their GPF fund, though it usually takes couple of months for the government to release the same in order to ensure the required balance in the state exchequer.

He also assured that the government will take up initiatives to prevent any pendency in GPF withdrawal.

Tipaimukh MLA Ngusan-glur Sanate enquired about any plan for taking up developmental works on Barak River in the stretch between Jirighat and Tipaimukh.

The river has been a source of livelihood for the people of Tipaimukh area by carrying out trades with Bangladesh and Silchar for ages.

However, the trade along the river ceased due to lack of development works along the stretch, he said.

In response, water re sources minister Awangbow Newmai said that there is no such plan for Barak River as of now.

However, the government had sent proposal to the Centre for taking up development works in the river under Extension of Inland Waterway scheme.

The Centre is planning to develop inland waterway along the stretch of Barak River covering up to Noney, he added.

Comment