Forest Department is trying out an innovative mechanism to prevent cutting of trees. Department has started giving out gas connection so that villagers do not cut trees and plants for fuel.

As part of the State Government announcement, Forest Department has given out over 2000 gas connections to the villages falling under the Jawai Leopard Conservation belt that falls under Udaipur. As per the forest officials, Chamunderi, Sena, Jeendna, Palwana, Velar, Lundana, Raghunathpura, Chimnipuri, Moribeda are among the 15 villages where the gas connections have been meted out.

As part of this endeavour, State Govt had given the forest department a subsidy of Rs 1800 per person. Forest department then motivated gas companies to reach out to these villages and the companies then got in touch with families for giving the connections

It may be noted that Forest department is also undertaking skill development of unemployed youth to keep them away from crime.  This provision is currently there for villages that fall in the 2km radius of Kumbalgarh and Jawai forest area. State Government has announced a subsidy of Rs 17000 per person as part of this scheme.

Source: Dainik Bhaskar