Haryana government today banned 'Tree felling' for five years to increase forest cover in the state, a senior official said.
This was stated by Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Forests, R R Jowel while presiding over a review meeting of the Department here.
However, those trees that have withered or are required to be removed because of a development project would be allowed, only after seeking approval of the concerned authorities.
It was informed in the meeting that as a part of the Swarna Jayanti projects, a City Forest would be developed at Murthal over an area of 116 acres and a workshop of antique furniture items would be set up at the plots of the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) in Bawal.
Jowel directed that trees should be planted along all National and State Highways, district and village roads without any further delay.
He asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Amrinder Kaur to identify and purchase land under the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) head to increase green cover in the state.
Jowel directed that all the pending cases under Forest Conservation Act, 1980 should be taken up on priority basis and same should be settled without any further delay.
He said the already constituted State Level Committee should immediately assess the availability of wood and accordingly submit the report to take decision on issuance of more licenses to wood based industries.
He emphasised the need to develop dense linear forest patches which were envisaged in the Swarna Jayanti celebrations of the state.
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