Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri asked the Central Government to provide financial assistance of Rs. 500 crore for removing lantana weed infesting the forests land. Bharmouri held detailed discussions in this regard with high level officers of Union Environment and Forest Ministry at New Delhi. He said that about 1.5 lakh hectare of land of lower Himachal was infested with lantana which was affecting the livelihood of the people.
Bharmouri also urged the Government of India to provide Rs. 50 crore financial assistance for tackling monkeys menace. He said that there were about 3.50 lakh monkeys which were causing damage to crops in the State due to which farmers had abandoned sowing crops. He also urged for bringing protection of crops from wild animals under MNREGA.
Forest Minister also asked the Central Government to release Rs. 10 crore financial assistance for encouraging ‘Chilgoja’ production in Kinnaur district, besides, central assistance of Rs. 10 crore for protection and conservation of 66 extinct species of medicinal plants.
