Writeup AP 2011-12 - Punjab State Planning Board

State funded schemes
FT-10 Punjab Forestry & Watershed Development Project and Promotion of
ICT and e-Governance in the State (FT-5, 6, 8, 12,13 and 14 merged).
271
Outlay –Rs. 390.00 lac
9.4.18 It is a comprehensive project mainly conceived to maintain the works carried
out/assets created under JBIC assisted Punjab Aforestation Project. It also addresses the
issues pertaining to enhancement of green cover, soil and water conservation in Shivalik
Hills, community involvement and empowerment for sustenance of natural resources in
future. Presently, due to scarcity of water for irrigation, excessive erosion of land, low crop
yield, lack of employment due to absence of any major industry in the region, the socioeconomic
condition of the inhabitants of the Shivalik tract of the state is relatively poor. An
important source of income for the inhabitants of the Shivalik tract is timber and other minor
forest produce from forest trees raised by the department on the community or private lands
of these people.
9.4.19 From 2010-11, it has been decided to merge the different ongoing schemes of
forestry sector such as Farm Forestry, Forest Research and Training, Plantation on Non-
Forest Government & Institutional Land and some new schemes such as community
participation in implementation of felling policy in Kandi Area, Strengthening of forest
conservation wing for delivery of citizen services and Promotion of ICT & e-Governance
into Punjab Forestry & Watershed Development scheme of the previous year.
9.4.20 The purpose is to create awareness amongst the people regarding importance
of environment, forest conservation & wild life preservation in sustaining the life. It will also
serve the purpose of environmental education to the students of schools/colleges, Five new
forest awareness parks would be established and already established forest awareness parks
would be maintained.
9.4.21 With a view to meet the increased requirement of raw material for the existing
and up-coming wood based industries in the state, as well as to increase the tree cover, the
farm forestry is extremely useful and important. There are approximately 6000 wood based
industries in Punjab, which are sourcing their wood from outside of the state. Agro forestry
has been identified as one of the most potential activities for enhancing the forest cover in the