Maha govt to encourage revenue generation from forest products

The Maharashtra government is looking at generating Rs 200-300 crore revenue per year by encouraging business from non-timber forest products.
State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said he will write to district collectors to identify plantations and forests in their respective areas.
"Our focus will be on marketing these products," he said.
The minister said the first 'Van Dhan Jan Dhan' shop was inaugurated in Nagpur last month. The shop sells handicrafts, bio-fuel and other products made exclusively of materials available in forest.
"The first day sale was Rs 37,000 which is very promising. Hence, we have decided to take this initiative to all districts," he said.

The shop in Nagpur has forest products from Gadchiroli having 12.55 lakh hectares of forest area. Tribals living in this area depend on forest for their livelihood, the minister said.