Gadchiroli Aug. 8 (District Correspondent) Gadchiroli Chimur Lok Sabha MP Dr. Namdev Kirsan met the Union Minister of Environment and Forests Mr. Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi recently and submitted him a memorandum demanding to relax the Forest Conservation Act 1980 to complete the pending irrigation projects in Gadchiroli district. He also demanded to take measures regarding the wild animal’s growing attacks in the region.
Many important irrigation projects including Karwafa medium project in Dhanora taluka, Dummenala small project in Etapalli taluka, Darpanguda small project in Dhanora taluka, Pipri Rith small project in Chamorshi taluka, Pulkhal small project in Dhanora taluka, Tultuli medium project in Armori taluka and Chenna medium project in Mulchera taluka have been stalled due to the Forest Conservation Act. The farmers of the district therefore have to face the frequent droughts affecting their crops, Dr. Kirsan pointed out. These irrigation projects will irrigate 48,738 hectares of agricultural land and a total of 2228.06 hectares of forest land is required to clear these projects, mentioned the MP.
Due to lack of these projects farmers have been facing irrigation facilities and suffering a crop loss, said the MP and requested the Minister to give relaxation to the forest conservation Act and give clearance of the forest department so as to complete the construction of these irrigation projects and thereby give relief to the farmers community.
Also, many incidents of the attacks of tigers and wild elephants have been taking place in the Lok Sabha area for the last few years and have created havoc due to which the people have lost their lives and their routine agricultural and other related works have been adversely affected as the farmers are scared to go to their farms due to these animals, said Dr. Kirsan. In order to prevent these losses measures should be taken at the earliest, these animals be shifted elsewhere, demanded Dr. Kirsan during the meeting with the Union Forest Minister Bhupendra Yadav.
