Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Review The Implementation Of National Afforestation Programme With A ... on 16 March, 2005
> Title: Need to review the implementation of National Afforestation Programme with a view to making it effective.
SHRI C.H. VIJAYASHANKAR (MYSORE): The Government is spending millions of rupees under the National Afforestation Programme (Social Forestry). I am worried about the outcome of NAP. I have noticed personally that in Karnataka the species planted under the scheme are mainly Acacia and Eucalyptus. These species are neither useful for the mankind nor to the environment.
This social forestry, planting road-side trees, is not a new concept. During the regime of the great emperor Ashoka this concept was effectively implemented so as to provide shelter, food to the commuter, stop the erosion of soil, improve the underground water-table and the fertility of the soil by the complete usage of these plants. That is how our ancestors used to plant tamarind, neem, pepal, mango, jamoon, banyan, which were fruit-bearing, shelter provider, and were useful with medicinal values.
It is paining to note that the implementing agencies are planting Eucalyptus and Acacia against the very basic principles of natural forestry and against the wishes of the general public, which is harmful and a dangerous development, though there is specific instruction under the policy not to take such plants, particularly to malenad, and semi-malenad areas.
I, therefore, urge the Government to review the NAP and issue a strong directive stopping the planting of these unwanted and dangerous species.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I would like to mention that only the matter that you have given in the hon. Speaker’s office, and has been approved by the hon. Speaker will go in the records.