Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma sounded an alarm over fast-depleting forest cover in Tripura. He said, the forest cover in the State has been destroyed by 50-60 per cent as per his assessment even as we claim that Tripura has a 60 per cent forest coverage.
“If anyone walks one or more kilometers towards the forest from the NH, one will observe that there is nothing left in the forest”, he said while addressing a press conference in Agartala on Tuesday.
The Minister pointed out, fast dwindling forest resources in the State are posing a grave threat to the state’s ecological balance and environment.
Commenting on tree felling for NH extension, Debbarma said, one has to forgo something to get something else. But we can launch massive tree plantation drives to restore forest cover in our State.
“Our vision is clear that we have to restore the forest coverage”, he asserted.
“The Forest Department has designed comprehensive plans to deal with the emerging environmental danger. Along with the Department, people will also have to participate in nurturing and preserving the forest”, Debbarma said.
The Forest Minister said the Forest Department has decided to plant 5 lakh trees across the state in 5 minutes on July 5 as part of the Van Mahotsav 2024 program. Various institutions including schools, colleges, and NGOs will be involved in this program. Free saplings will be distributed by the department to schools, colleges, Military and para-military agencies and various institutions in July for the implementation of this program.
Apart from planting 5 lakh saplings on July 5, special initiatives will be taken to take care of and preserve the saplings. Monitoring and sapling guards will be erected to protect those.
With the aim of maintaining the ecological balance due to tree felling, the Forest Department has decided to plant flower and fruit trees along national highways and roads.
“We will also take initiatives to plant fruit-bearing seedlings like Indian Black Berry etc.”, he stressed.
Animesh Debbarma also made a clarion call to rise against the timber smugglers and assist the forest department in curbing illegal tree-felling by the smugglers.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
