Jaulan Kalan in Derabassi and Chappar Chiri in Mohali Block Identified for Pilot Projects
SAS Nagar :
Sahibjada Ajit Singh Nagar will promote the agro forestry on unutilised Panchayat lands to ensure guaranteed pay back system for the Panchayats. The proposed trees that would be planted under the agro forestry included Burma Drek, Eucalyptus and Poplar.
Divulging details, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Ms Geetika Singh said that as per the directions of Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Aashika Jain, a proposal has been mooted by the Department of Forests and Wildlife for the guaranteed income of the Panchayats.
We have identified two villages in Mohali and Derabassi blocks so far, said ADC Geetika Singh by adding that Chappar Chiri in Mohali block while Jaula Kalan in Derabassi block have been chosen for the pilot project while Majri and Kharar Block Development and Panchayat Officers have been asked to submit the list of lands by next week.
The agro forestry would be of minimum five acres of land where the commercial wooden trees would be planted in the guidance of department of Forest and Wildlife. The period of produce would be three to five years as per the growth of the tree. The panchayats would get the periodical income from these, she further added.
In First phase, each block to have a pilot project to showcase to others for the next phase. We are sure to have a profitable venture for the Panchayats by entering into agro forestry, said ADC Geetika Singh.
Divisional Forest Officer, Kanwardeep Singh said that the project mooted by the department to the Deputy Commissioner would increase forest cover as well as guaranteed remuneration to the concerned panchayat besides judicious use of baron lands. An agreement between the Panchayat and Plywood/Wooden processing based industries would be signed for the guaranteed buy back of the wooden produce, he said.
He expressed hope that the pilot project going to be started in each block would soon cover the entire district thereby helping in increasing the green cover.
