• Thakre to visit HP
• Manimahesh opened to pilgrims

Survey: forest cover has stabilised

SHIMLA, May 30 (UNI) — The Himachal Pradesh Government plans to bring at least 50 per cent of the state's geographical area under forests.

A survey has revealed that the forest cover in the state has by and large stabilised and in fact, shown a marginal increase.

Dense forests are confined to only 17 per cent of the area against 66 per cent envisaged in the national forest policy, according to an official spokesman here.

The state has a total geographical area of 55,673 sq km out of the which 35,518 sq km (63.8 per cent of the total geographical area) is recorded as forests.

The spokesman said the state government had visualised a green and prosperous Himachal within the first two decades of the new millennium by bringing considerable additional land under afforestation.

Various forest schemes were being implemented by the state government to transform this vision into reality.

The government had initiated an ambitious project with the involvement of grassroots level institutions in eco-restoration. The basic objective of this new people-oriented afforestation scheme, the Sanjhi Van Yojna, was that institutions like gram panchayats, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals, schools, village forest development societies and non-government organisations (NGOs) would assume a greater role and responsibility in the management of the natural resources.

The scheme envisaged the regeneration of degrades forest area and the creation of social assets for the benefit of villagers. It would generate employment opportunities in the rural areas.

The spokesman said that efforts were being made to bring more area under tree cover by encouraging plantation on private wastelands on a benefit-sharing basis.

Emphasis was being laid on establishing modern nurseries and soil and conservation measures.

For the effective participation of rural people, village forest development societies were being constituted in villages located in the periphery of forests.These societies, which would have at least 50 per cent women members, would assist the Forest Department in planning, protection and afforestation measures and in the judicious use of the existing rights on forests.

They would persuade villagers to give their available land for plantation and protect the assets created on them.

The spokesman said the focus of activities under the scheme would primarily be on degraded forests, government land and private land if its owner was willing to give it for plantation.

Bus operators to go on strike
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 30 — The Himachal Pradesh Private Bus Operators Union has decided to observe a day's token strike on June 5 in protest against the failure of the government to settle its demands.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the union held here today.

A spokesman for the union said private buses would remain off the road for 12 hours from 5 a.m. on that day. The union also decided to start an indefinite strike from June 15 if the government failed to accept its demands by that time.

Thakre to visit HP

SHIMLA, May 30 (PTI) — All-India President of the BJP Kushabhau Thakre will visit Himachal for two days from June 2, according to secretary of the state of the BJP.

Mr Thakre will address party workers at the state headquarters during his visit.

Manimahesh opened to pilgrims
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, May 30 — With the melting of snow, the famous Manimahesh pilgrimage centre in Bharmaur, Chamba, has been opened to the public.

Manimahesh is situated at an altitude of 4,170 metres and is about 216 km from the Pathankot railhead.

Of late a troop of mountaineers hailing from Nasik and Pune visited Manimahesh. Mr Lalji Singh, Divisional Commissioner of Kangra, congratulated these young mountaineers for having scaled the Manimahesh peak.

The Divisional Commissioner also inspected the Institute of Mountaineers at Bharmaur.