Port Blair, Aug. 3: “I wish to know from the forest department as to how many saplings were planted by them in the name of forest re-generation and how many of them survive”, said the Member of Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray during a press meet held at the MP Bhawan today morning.

The MP said that he had been to Bakultala recently and had a chance to visit the central nursery of the Forest Department. I was astonished that the Forest Department have been utilizing the services of mere two labourers per hectare of land, for its re-generation. More shocking is the amount of money spent under such projects, he expressed.

During the last Island Development Authority meeting, I had suggested to engage more workers under such projects and the IDA had directed the concerned department to consult the MP before submitting further proposals. Unfortunately the Department without consulting me had submitted their proposal, which means nothing but wastage of draining of public money, Bishnu said.  

Shri Paritosh Saha, Retired DFO who was present during the press meet explaining the process of re-generation of forest said, it is a long and tedious process which should be done under the supervision of experts. The process starts from collecting of seeds, creating nurseries and then planting of saplings with a certain gap between them. The next is protection of the saplings.

“It is not possible for 2 labourers per Hectare of land to achieve the target. It means around 1200 saplings in a hectare”, the retired DFO explained.

The Member of Parliament further said, “I doubt whether 80% of the saplings end up in being mature trees”. The MP had also suggested that such projects should be done under PMGSY, which can provide employment to the youth for atleast 6 months in a year.