Protected forest cover up from 2.91% to 3.92%: Govt

Jaipur: Forest and environment minister Hemaram Chaudhary said that protected forest cover in the state has increased to 3.92% in 2023-24 from 2.91% in 2018-19, while replying to a debate on the demand for grants of the department on Wednesday.
“The government has approved the new forest policy and has set a target of 20% of the land being under forest cover.Nine new conservation reserves have been declared during the tenure of the present government in a bid to achieve the aim of a green Rajasthan. Also, Ramgarh Sanctuary is being developed as the fourth Tiger Reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska and Mukundara Tiger Hills. The process of notifying a tiger reserve in Dholpur is under process,” he said. He also informed that 15 places in the state have been declared as eco-sensitive zones to protect the environment.
Urban development and housing minister Shanti Kumar Dhariwal informed that more than 7.71 lakh leases have been issued so far under the campaign ‘Prashashan Saharo Ka Sang’ across the state. Also, about 18.18 lakh applications for building maps, name transfer, subdivision, reorganisation and leases have been disposed of under the campaign, he said.