Himachal Pradesh government will urge the Centre to release Rs 277 crore, erroneously deposited by the Defence ministry with Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority of India (CAMPA), towards cost of the trees in projects under the ministry.
Presiding over the review meeting of state forest department here, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said, pending issues such as continuation of Regional Office at Chandigarh for Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearances, approval to Rs 25 crore IT project, Rs 10 crore Chilgoza Pine Project and Rs 35 crore Sea-buckthorn project will be taken up with ministries concerned at the Centre.
Singh directed forest department officials to emphasise on afforestation in order to increase green cover in the state.
He lauded the efforts of forest department for initiating measures to increase the green cover of the state despite heavy biotic and developmental pressure and taking initiatives for various innovative activities such as introduction of Forest Fire Alert Systems (FFAS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).
The Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district has been shortlisted for nomination as UNESCO's World Heritage site, Singh said.
