Gujarat seeks Central nod for ring road around Gir

21-02-2011
Gujarat seeks Central nod for ring road around Gir
Zeenews.com
http://www.zeenews.com/news688942.html

Gujarat on Monday asked the Centre to sanction funds for building a ring road around the famous Gir Sanctuary as part of efforts to protect and conserve Asiatic Lions in the region.

Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Mangubhai Patel made the demand during a meeting with Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh here.

He asked Ramesh to approve Rs 600 crore for constructing ring road around Gir Lion Sanctuary for protection and conservation of the lions.

During the meeting, Patel also requested Ramesh that the Compensatory Afforestation Management Fund (CAMPA) due to Gujarat be released as soon as possible.

The Gujarat Government has a total provision of Rs 485 crore for compensatory funds parked with Centre, which includes Rs 132.63 crore towards compensatory afforestation and Rs 349.72 crore towards net present value.

Patel said that adhoc CAMPA has been released so far by the central government in two instalments for Gujarat amounting to Rs 24.96 crore and Rs 29.16 crore which was "utterly inadequate".

He also requested Ramesh to release fund for 'State Forest Development Agency' and the 'Greening India Programme' schemes.

Gujarat Minister of State for Forest & Environment Kiritsinh Rana, Principal Secretary, Forest & Environment SK Nanda and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Pradeep Khanna were also present during the meeting.