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Himachal CM Seeks Forest Cover Recalculation, Wins ₹200 Cr Road Funding

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu met Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, urging a recalculation of the state's forest cover to include trees outside forest areas, which would raise it from 27.99% to 29.5%. He argued that the state receives no central credit for strictly regulating tree felling on private land, thus undervaluing its ecological contribution. In a separate meeting with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Sukhu secured an in-principle approval of ₹200 crore for a road project benefiting apple growers. Discussions also covered the Shimla-Mataur highway and the construction of tunnels to address the challenging terrain.

Key Points: Himachal CM Urges Centre to Recalculate State's Tree Cover

  • CM demands recalculation of forest cover
  • State claims 29.5% cover vs official 27.99%
  • Seeks credit for trees on private land
  • ₹200 crore approved for apple belt road
  • Discussions held on Shimla-Mataur highway & tunnels
2 min read

Himachal CM urges Centre for re-calculation of tree cover

CM Sukhvinder Sukhu meets Union Ministers, seeks recognition of actual 29.5% forest cover and secures ₹200 crore for a key apple belt road.

"undervaluing the trees outside the forest component undervalues the true contribution of Himachal Pradesh - CM Sukhvinder Sukhu"

New Delhi, Jan 27

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Tuesday called on Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav here and apprised him about the discrepancy registered in the actual tree cover of 29.5 per cent against the officially recorded 27.99 per cent.

He said this arises due to the non-inclusion of trees outside the forest in the consolidated representation of the state's forest and tree cover.

He said the state also exercised strict regulatory control over harvesting private lands under a different status for which the state doesn't receive any credit from the Centre.

He emphasised including this 1.5 per cent component in the forest cover in order to recognise the State's true ecological and forestry contribution. He added that the trees outside the forest contribute to the conservation of green cover while preventing ecological degradation of the fragile Himalayas.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to recognise 29.5 per cent forest and tree cover for all calculations relating to forest and ecology under the Finance Commission or other allocations from the Central government.

He demanded that 1.5 per cent of trees outside the forest component may be acknowledged as a legitimate and policy-relevant contribution to ecosystem services, conservation effort and environmental governance.

He said undervaluing the trees outside the forest component undervalues the true contribution of Himachal Pradesh to the national ecosystem services and creates a bias against the state that protects trees.

The Union Minister assured all possible support to the state.

Meanwhile, CM Sukhu also called on Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and held detailed discussions about strengthening the road infrastructure and demanded adequate financial support for the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges in the state.

The Union Minister approved Rs 200 crore in principle under CRIF for the Chaila-Neripul-Yashwant Nagar-Ochghat road, which would facilitate apple growers in the state.

The Chief Minister apprised him about the progress of the Shimla-Mataur National Highway, which is providing connectivity to eight districts with the state capital, besides adjoining states.

He requested the introduction of the maximum number of tunnels between Shimla and Shalaghat and Bhager to Hamirpur, keeping in view the hilly terrain and geological sensitivity of the area.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally, someone is talking sense. Himachal does so much for the environment but gets penalized in fund allocation because of technicalities. That 1.5% might seem small, but it represents countless trees that people are protecting on their own land without any incentive.
D
David E
Interesting read. The article mentions the Rs 200 crore for the apple growers' road. It seems like the meeting was about more than just tree cover - it was about linking ecological contribution to economic development and infrastructure funding. A holistic approach.
A
Anjali F
While I agree with the principle, I hope this isn't just about getting more funds. The true value is in preserving the Himalayas. The focus on tunnels for the highways is crucial too - less cutting of hillsides. Both ecology and infrastructure need careful planning.
V
Vikram M
As someone from a hilly state, I understand this completely. Our family has trees on our land that we've preserved for generations. They stop landslides and give us water. Why shouldn't that count? The current system is biased towards large forest blocks only.
S
Sarah B
The Union Minister's assurance is positive, but the proof will be in the policy change. Many states with significant agro-forestry might be facing similar issues. A national re-evaluation of how "forest cover" is defined could be a good outcome from this.

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