Forest Department : Manipur

Forest Department : Manipur

GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR

The Forest Department, Government of Manipur is headed by a Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Shri G.K. Prasad, IFS is the present Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. In his office he is assisted by Chief Conservator of Forests/Planning & Admn., Conservator of Forests/Admn. & Planning , Dy. Conservator of Forests/Admn. & Planning and Asstt. Conservator of Forests (M.F.S). As Head of Department, he is assisted by following officers:-

1. 
   Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
   

2. 
   Chief Conservator of Forests - 3 ( three ).
   
3. 
   Conservator of Forests - 6(six).
   
4. 
   Territorial Divisional Forest Officers - 9(nine).
   
5. 
   Functional Divisional Forest Officers - 7(seven).
   
6. 
   Dy. Conservator of Forests/Admn. & Planning - 1(one).
   
7. 
   Dy. Conservator of Forests/Wildlife - 2(two).
   
8. 
   Director, Forest School - 1(one).
   

Besides the above mentioned officers, the Department has a good number of Asst. Conservator of Forests, Range Forest Officers, Dy. Rangers and Forest Guards posted in different Division offices , Range offices and Beat offices.

1. 
   FOREST AREA :
   

According to the State of Forest Report 2001, by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, the forest cover of Manipur is 16,926 Sq. kms. which is 75.81% of the total geographical area of the State as against 17,384 sq. kms. in 1999. This comparison has been made to show the latest figure even though the FSI itself has stated that it would be invalid to compare the 2001 Report data with the earlier reports since techniques (digital, in place of visual and scale 1:50,000 and 1: 250,000) of interpretations are different.

( State of Forest Report 2001, F.S.I., Dehradun )

1. 
   Revenue:
   

The Department collected s sum of Rs. 95.30 lakhs as revenue from various non-timber forest produces during the year 2003-04. No revenue was collected from timber as there is ban on felling and movement of timber by Supreme Court.

Sl. No.	Year	Revenue Figure ( Amount in Rupees)
1.	1999-00	75,16,632.00
2.	2000-01	97,00,733.00
3.	2001-02	73,44,326.00
4.	2002-03	77,52,626.00
5.	2003-04	95,30,371.00

2. 
   Expenditure :-
   

The Department implemented 26 plan schemes during the year 2003-04 with an outlay of Rs. 417.00 lakhs under Major Head 2406-Forestry and Wildlife (inclusive of Rs. 3.24 lakhs outlay for Rubber Plantation) and Rs. 70.00 lakhs under Major Head 2402- Soil and Water Conservation. Besides the State plan schemes the department also implement 8(eight) Centrally sponsored schemes. The following table shows the total expenditure under Non- Plan, Plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

Sl. No.	Particulars	Expenditure
1.	Non- Plan	Rs. 1036.22 lakhs
2.	Plan ( a ) Forestry	Rs. 292.79 lakhs
	( b ) Soil Conservation	Rs. 54.92 lakhs
	( c ) Rubber Plantation	Rs. 1.27 lakhs
3.	Centrally Sponsored Scheme	Rs. 210.53 lakhs
	Total	Rs. 1595.73 lakhs”

1. Afforestation : In a state like Manipur, where about 90% of the total area are in hills and where forest is the biggest land use pattern, taking up large scale afforestation needs no emphasis. The scheme of afforestation has been taken up with the objective of protecting land against erosion, restoration of degraded land to productive areas, better moisture conservation for improving productivity, reduce siltation in reservoirs and finally generation of employment opportunities. During the period, maintenance of 2000-01 and 2001-02 plantations was carried out and advance work i/c creation of nursery for 240 ha. was taken up with an expenditure of Rs. 50.23 lakhs.

2. Rehabilitation of Jhumias : To wean away the jhumias from the practice of shifting cultivation through an integrated approach involving agriculture, forestry, horticulture , veterinary etc. jhumia rehabilitation was carried out to settle 24 jhumia families by developing 48 ha. of plantation during 2003-04. The expenditure incurred was Rs. 4.69 lakhs.

MH 2406 - FORESTRY & WILDLIFE

1. Economic Plantation : With a view to convert the poorly stocked Reserved forests in to a fully stocked normal forests and to meet the future requirements of wood for industrial use and commercial purpose, plantation of important economic species was taken up under the scheme. Final plantation over 20 Ha. was taken up during 2003-04 along with advance work over an area of 80 Ha. with an expenditure of Rs. 29.41 lakhs.

2. Social Forestry : The scheme has been drawn up with the objective of meeting the fuelwood, fodder and small timber requirements of the local people from the nearby areas and thus leave the forests in the interior hill areas for maintaining the ecological balance. For implementation of the scheme, suitable barren and degraded forest area and wastelands near district headquarters and major villages in the hill areas are given due consideration. The scheme was taken up as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme(50%) for the fuelwood and fodder plantation and construction of small scale engineering structures in selected areas. During the year, maintenance of IX Plan (Area Oriented Fuelwood and Fodder Production scheme) plantations of 1998-99, 1999-2K & 2000-01was carried out over 3910 Ha. Construction of 6,950 Rm of vegetative checkdam, 3,470 Rm of bamboo spur, 2,300 Rm of boulder sausage and contour trenching over 95 Ha. were also carried out. The expenditure incurred in this scheme was Rs. 94.43 lakhs.

3. Development of Minor Forest Produce : The scheme aims at preserving and augmenting the production of indigenous minor forest produce resources like orchids, agar, cane, cardamom etc. by growing them in suitable areas. Since the entire family of Orchidaceae has been included under the endangered and threatened species, it needs conservation and protection on priority basis. Under the scheme, ex-situ orchid preservation centres and in-situ preservation centre are maintained and improved with an outlay of Rs 2.20 lakhs.

4. Training of staff: The objective of the scheme is to impart training to forest officers and subordinate staff in forestry and allied subjects for effective management of forest on scientific lines and proper implementation of various schemes. During 2003-04, training was imparted to 5 Dy. Rangers, 5 Foresters and 13 Forest Guards. The expenditure incurred was Rs. 4.20 lakhs during the period.

5. Forest Protection: Since forest fire, grazing and indiscriminate felling of trees are the main causes for deterioration of forest wealth and ecological balance in the state, adequate measures are required to stop such practices. An expenditure of Rs. 3.13 lakhs was incurred for the scheme during the year 2003-04.

7. Forest Buildings : Under the scheme, maintenance/renovation of Departmental buildings were carried out. Construction of Garage and extension of office building at Forest Head office was also taken up during the year. The expenditure under the scheme during the period was Rs. 12.00 lakhs.

8. Preservation of Wild Life: In order to ensure preservation of rare and vanishing species of wild life, the schemes of Improvement of Zoo and Development of Keibul Lamjao National Park have been taken up. Maintenance and improvement of the zoo was done by repairing and constructing modern enclosures and aviaries. Activities like habitat improvement of Sangai, eradication of unwanted species, habitat improvement, plantation of food and shelter species, fixation of phumdies etc. was carried out under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Development of Keibul Lamjao National Park. Schemes like Conservation, Development and Management of wild life and its habitat, control of poaching and illegal trade of wild life, assistance for captive breeding and rehabilitation of endangered species and Development of Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wild life Sanctuary were also taken up during 2003-04. A total expenditure of Rs. 68.36 lakhs has been incurred under various schemes for preservation of wildlife during the period.

MH 2407 - PLANTATION

1. Rubber planta€tion: Plantation of rubber, having found suitable in and around Jiribam and the scheme was taken up with the objective of producing the much needed rubber on one hand and uplifting the economy of the local people by providing employment to the backward families and to rehabilitate the wastelands on the other hand. An expenditure of Rs. 1.27 lakhs was incurred for maintenance of the existing plantations during 2003-04.