Govt allowed use of forests for utilities

MUMBAI: The Union Forest Ministry has extended the scheme where forest land, up to 1 hectare, can be utilised for social utilities like hospitals, non-conventional energy generation projects and schools. The order that came last week has extended the scheme up to December 3, 2008.

“In the last two years nearly 77,000 cases were sanctioned. However, post December 2006, we did not have the authority to sanction anymore proposals due to which 22,000 projects were awaiting permission,” Forest minister Babanrao Pachpute said.

“Earlier, we had run to concerned forest offices in Bhopal and Delhi for construction of utility services in rural and urban areas as a result of which projects would get delayed. Maharashtra got its special powers from the Centre in January 2005,” Pachpute said.

However, the powers given to the state are conditional. “The utility project should be promoted by the government and the Net Present Value (NPV) of the forest land acquired for such projects should be paid to the central government. The NPV depends on the density of the forest and the area in which the project is coming up,” said a joint secretary from State Forest Department.