Forest department’s anti-poverty projects to begin with soil testing

One of the biggest projects undertaken by the forest department under UPPFMPAP is covers 20 forest divisions and is spread across 14 districts — Lakhimpur Kheri,Behraich,Mirzapur,Pilibhit,Chandauli,Sonebhadra,Allahabad,Lalitpur,Mahoba,Hamirpur,Jhansi,Balrampur,Shrawasti and Chitrakoot. The project,which officially began in 2008 will continue for next eight years and is estimated to cost Rs 572 crores — Rs 468.2 crores is being given by JICA as loan and the rest is being borne by the state government.

“The criteria for our plantation drive are different from that of the agriculture department. We have to check the soil quality at least three foot below the surface and have to ensure that whatever plantation is being carried out with an aim to provide livelihood should survive in optimum conditions,” said a forest department official.

In the preparatory phase,the department will be largely focusing on creating Soil Sample Collection and Testing Laboratories. Apart from labs,the phase will also see creation and training of joint forest management committees in the villages bordering the forest area. The committees have already been created in the villages,and between July and August the NGOs chosen for the project will be holding awareness and training programmes. The department will also be conducting surveys and GIS mapping exercise of the entire project area.