Sonowal announces slew of measures for Assam forest department

Newly elected Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday directed the Environment and Forest Department to set up a permanent office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest at Kaziranga.

The chief minister gave go ahead in course of a review meeting with Minister for Environment and Forest Pramila Rani Brahma, Chief Secretary V.K Pipersenia and senior forest officials at his office conference room at Assam Secretariat late Friday.

The chief minister has also asked the Environment and Forest Department to prepare an action plan for generation of revenue to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore out of its own resources during the current financial year.

Expressing his concern over the fast depletion forest cover, Sonowal asked the department to create awareness for preservation of state's bio-diversity involving the students living in 26,000 villages across the state.

Underlining the need for protection of the state's forest resources, Sonowal asked the department to formulate a scheme for plantation of one crore saplings.

He also directed the department to make an in-depth study of the plant species that existed 300 years ago.

He suggested the department to examine the quality of sand and for its proper utilisation in different sectors.

Sonowal said the utilisation of the forest resources especially the sand of the Brahmaputra by the Central and State Governments as well as the private sector in the construction sector would not only lead to steep increase in revenue mobilisation but also ensure increase volume of water through the tributaries of the Brahmaputra.

--IANS

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