Committees constituted for Wildlife Protection Awards

 Forest Minister will chair the selection committee

The state government has constituted selection committees for Basavan Mama Memorial Forest and Wildlife Protection Awards.The Forest Minister will chair the selection committee for state level Basavan Mama Memorial Forest and Wildlife Protection Award while its members will include Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary

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Forests necessary for environmental balance: Sartaj Singh

World Forestry Day 

In his message on the occasion of World Forestry Day, Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh has said that shrinkage of forest cover worldwide has posed danger to environment. The only option for maintaining ecological balance is conservation and development of forests.

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State Govt. not yet agree to sign MoU on tiger reserves

Bhopal:Tuesday, September 15, 2009:Updated 19:28IST Some newspapers have published wrong information that Madhya Pradesh government is now ready to sign the tripartite MoU regarding management of tiger reserves in the state. Government of India has been insisting that funds for the management of the tiger reserves will not be released unless the state government and the field directors enter into a tripartite MoU with central government through National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
The Government of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department refutes the above mentioned news. The discussion is still going on regarding amendment in the form and contents of the tripartite MoU. Madhya Pradesh Government has not yet agreed to sign the tripartite MoU in its current form, as has been published in some newspapers.

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Center and states to work in tandem for forest conservation

Green fund incentive to MP For having large forest cover

Bhopal:Saturday, September 12, 2009:Updated 16:50IST The Union Minister of Forest and Environment (independent charge), Shri Jairam Ramesh has said that the Central Government and state governments would work in tandem for forest protection and conservation.
He said that the Central Government is considering providing green fund incentive to states which have large forest cover and Madhya Pradesh is one of these few states. He stressed the need for implementation of the guidelines issued from time to time in letter and spirit. He had a word of praise for the forest conservation works carried out in Madhya Pradesh .
Shri Jairam Ramesh addressed a meeting of senior officers of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department at the Academy of Administration, here today.
Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Forest (independent charge), Shri Rajendra Shukla presided over the function attended among others by Additional Chief Secretary (Forests), Shri Prashant Mehtra; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Shri A.K. Dube; Additional Director General of Forests in Government of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. P.B. Gangopadhyay and Member-Secretary of the Tiger Authority of India, Dr. Rajesh Gopal.
Shri Jairam Ramesh stressed the need for involvement of local community in conservation of protected areas. Shri Ramesh said that the profile of the department is being changed to spur the work of forest conservation as part of which 53 posts have been upgraded. He said that Madhya Pradesh has done a commendable work in the use of information technology for conservation of forest.
By this the Chairman of the Knowledge Commission, Shri Sam Pitroda is greatly impressed and it will be replicated. He stressed the need for proper training to the forest personnel right from forest guard to the top. He also called for giving greater importance to forestry in view of its economic, social and ecological importance.
The Union Minister of State, Shri Ramesh said that the nation has set a target to bring 35 percent geographical area under forest cover and expressed happiness that Madhya Pradesh has 31 percent forest cover. He stressed the need for encouraging PPP in afforestation in denuded forest areas.
He said that Madhya Pradesh is a front runner state having a very good track record. The main problems is not that of resources but the problem is that of implementing all the schemes with efficiency and sincerity. He called upon the officers to carry out their duties without giving in to any pressure.
Madhya Pradesh Minister of State, Shri Rajendra Shukla said that definitely Madhya Pradesh has not made desired progress in certain matters but it was because of inordinate delay in decision making. However, very positive dialogue has been held with Shri Jairam and the shortcomings would be removed soon.
He said that Madhya Pradesh has taken up the matters pertaining to forest conservation with the Central Government and the Centre has assured adequate funds. Liberal assistance for Panna has also been assured by the Central Government.
He said that the state government and its officers will leave no stone unturned to achieve the national target of 33 percent forest cover. Shri Shukla expressed gratitude to Shri Jairam Ramesh for visiting Madhya Pradesh and presented a replica of Sanchi Stupa as a memento to him.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary, Shri Prashant Mehtra threw light on the efforts being made for the conservation of forests in Madhya Pradesh. PCCF Shri A.K. Dube delivered the welcome address.
A Power Point presentation was made before Shri Jairam Ramesh about the various aspects of Madhya Pradesh forests and the efforts being made for the protection and conservation.

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Bhopal to become country’s environment capital

C.M. holds meeting with union forest minister

Bhopal:Saturday, September 12, 2009:Updated 17:05IST The Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that while chalking out the schemes for conservation of wildlife and forests as well as development, the interests of the people dwelling in forest areas should be taken proper care of.
Then alone will these schemes succeed at desired level, he added. Shri Chouhan was addressing a meeting in the presence of Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Shri Jairam Ramesh at his residence here today.
Shri Jairam Ramesh said that he wants to see Bhopal the environment capital of the country. He said that setting up of an environment green tribunal is under consideration. This will lead to establishment of many environment related institutions in Bhopal.
He said that the Central Government would provide assistance to state government to upgrade the state government’s disaster management institute to a national industrial safety institute. He said that the matter will be further considered.
Shri Ramesh assured necessary central assistance for construction of a national highway through Pentch Sanctuary, establishment of private forest nursery, raising of a Union Carbide Tragedy Memorial and bringing tigers to Palpur Kuno from zoo and assured necessary central assistance to the integrated scheme for conservation of lakes in Bhopal.
Shri Jairam Ramesh informed that the states like Madhya Pradesh having more than national average of forest area would be provided financial assistance as green grant. He said that the Chief Minister Shri Chouhan had taken up the issue with the Central Finance Commission and Planning Commission.
He assured that the amount of Madhya Pradesh deposited in CAMPA Fund would be released in the next six months. The meeting also discussed measures to prevent deterioration of environment due to thermal power stations at Singrauli.
Discussions with C.M.
Prior to the meeting, Shri Jairam Ramesh held separate meeting the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Minister of State for Forests, Shri Rajendra Shukla and Minister for Environment, Shri Jayant Malaiya were also present at the meeting.
Shri Ramesh said that he favoured taking decisions from development point of view instead of getting matters entangled in legal issues. He assured full cooperation to Madhya Pradesh for conservation of forests and other issues.
Minister for Housing and Environment, Shri Jayant Malaiya; Minister of State for Forests, Shri Rajendra Shukla; Additional Chief Secretary, Forests, Shri Prashant Mehta; Additional Chief Secretary, NVDA, Shri O.P. Rawat; Principal Secretary, Housing and Environment, Shri Alok Shrivastava; Secretary, Forests, Shri Ratan Porwal; PCCF, Shri A.K. Dube; Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Shri Raghav Chandra; Managing Director, Road Development Corporation, Shri Mohammad. Suleman; Director, EPCO, Smt. Kalpana Shrivastava; Secretaries to Chief Minister, Shri S.P.S. Parihar and Shri S.K. Mishra and other senior officers concerned attended the meeting.

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