(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the newsitem captioned `Using Microbes to green Asola` appearing in the Times of India dated November 6, 2002;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to introduce these new techniques widely through out the country; and
(d) the details of any other schemes, if any, to recover the lost forest area due to encroachment of deforestation?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a), (b) & (c) Yes, Sir. Prof. C.R. Babu of Delhi University along with a team of scientists from Delhi University`s Centre for Management of Degraded Eco-System has undertaken a pilot research project on `Technology Development for Rehabilitation of Bhatti Mined Area and Other Morrum Quarries in Delhi State` on two sites of 1.5 hectare each at Bhatti and Asola areas. The duration of the Project was five years from 01-12-1994 to 30-11-1999 at a total cost of Rs. 25,76,970/-. The project envisages encapsulation of seeds/roots of the saplings of the native flora with the nitrogen fixing and phosphate solublising microbes. These microbes help in making available the nutrients to the plants for their growth. About fifty species of legumes and grasses have been tried for rehabilitating the dry and hot areas of the worked over mine areas located in Asola and Bhati of Delhi falling under Aravalli Ranges. Being a pilot research project, its replication to the other parts of the country, at this stage, is premature.
(d) The eviction of encroachers from the forestland is done in accordance with the provisions made in the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and similar State Legislations currently in force. However, directions have been issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests to the State Governments and the Union Territory Administration to deal with the issue of encroachment seriously and evict the ineligible encroachers from the forestland in a time bound manner as per the guidelines issued under the provision of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.