HP wants money for not felling trees

The state loses a revenue of Rs 250 crore each year by not been able to take up selective felling, which, some conservationists think is needed to keep a forest healthy. The BJP-led government had also made a similar demand when in power.

Singh, while addressing the Planning Commission before it okayed state’s plan at Rs 1335 crore, said: ‘‘Himachal should be given some incentive for forest conservation as the state was sacrificing huge financial resources for safeguarding environment and to protect national wealth in the shape of forests’’.

Planning Commission deputy chairman K.C. Pant was however not moved by the logic. He in fact took Himachal to task for unchecked losses in the state’s Electricity Board and the State Transport Corporation. Pant asked Singh to take up drastic economic reforms to arrest the losses in both these key sectors.

While lauding the state’s efforts in improving health and education standards, Pant asked why inspite of massive vegetable and fruit production its average apple production was less than that of J-K.