Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa today ordered an afforestation scheme with an outlay of Rs 686.28 crore through the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project in the state. The project is planned with financial assistance from the Japanese International Cooperative Agency (JICA).
It is to be implemented in eight years between 2011-12 and 2018-19. This is in continuation of the Tamil Nadu government's earlier scheme, and would cover forest areas not covered under the earlier afforestation schemes, according to an official announcement.
Under the scheme, the government would improve protection to animals in forests without interfering in their lives and more trees would be planted. This would also help in increasing the number of animals in the forest, the statement added.
