(a) Whether NABARD has sanctioned funds for development of forests in the country including Jharkhand during the last three years and thereafter;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether a scheme has been formulated to incur funds on conservation of forests; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the funds utilised by the State so far?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS (SHRI DILIP SINGH JU DEV)
(a) Yes Sir. NABARD has disbursed refinance to banks in ten States for forestry development. No refinance has been disbursed in the Jharkhand.
(b) State-wise details of the refinance disbursed are at Annexure.
(c) Yes Sir.
(d) Central assistance was provided to the States under the Centrally sponsored forestry scheme `Forest Fire Control and Management` during the ninth plan for prevention and control of forest fires. Funds were also provided for strengthening of infrastructure for forest protection in the North Eastern States and Sikkim. Rs.20.53 crore have been utilized by the States under the scheme `Forest Fire Control and Management` and Rs.38.30 crore for strengthening of infrastructure for forest protection during the ninth plan. During tenth plan, the Ministry has formulated a new scheme viz. `Integrated Forest Protection Scheme` by merging the above two components and the amount released during 2002-03 is Rs. 45.82 crores.
ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5306 to be answered on 28.04.2003 regarding `Funds from NABARD for development of forests`. State-wise details of refinance to Banks for forestry development by NABARD are as follows:
(Rs.in lakhs)
State/UT 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
Haryana 990 642 351 Punjab 99 172 107 Orissa 23 50 154 West Bengal 1 35 - Uttar Pradesh 82 147 152 Gujarat 2 - - Maharashtra - 185 71 Andhra Pradesh# 84 319 374 Karnataka - 7 0 Tamil Nadu 82 65 31
Total 1363 1622 1240
# In the case of Andhra Pradesh, loans of Rs.100.47 crore have also been sanctioned by NABARD for Joint Forest Management Scheme during the last three years under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund - V, VI and VIII.