U’khand to identify degraded forestland for rural roads

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27

In a step towards rural empowerment, Uttarakhand is all set to identify degraded forestland for furthering the cause of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

The yojana is aimed at providing connectivity to cut-off habitations in rural areas. However, its successful implementation has been a major challenge due to strict environment and forest laws.

According to an estimate, 63.42 per cent of the state’s geographical area falls under forests that prominently include reserve forests, civil forests and also degraded forestland.

Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, while reviewing the progress of the yojana through videoconferencing on Friday, instructed District Magistrates across the state to identify degraded forestland for roads to be constructed under the yojana.

He said pending land transfer cases should be cleared expeditiously.

The Chief Secretary instructed the DMs to expedite the works of connecting cut-off villages with roads. It was informed at the meeting that currently, a total of 453-km of roads would be constructed under the yojana and there was a need for 700 hectares of degraded forestland for the purpose.

A total of 31 roads in Garhwal and 23 in Kumoan have been sanctioned. As many as 378 proposals have been received for forest clearances.