33,589-acre forestland in Sindh illegally encroached, PA told

KARACHI: November 21 (PPI): The Sindh Assembly was informed on Monday that Sindh Forest Department has got vacated 27,026.55 acres of land in various districts of the province since April 2008, while a major portion of land measuring 33,589.50 acres is yet to be recovered from encroachers.

This was stated by the Sindh Minister for Forest Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, responding to a query of MPA Kulsoom Chandio during a question hour.Minister told the house that his department could recover only 800-acre land in Thatta, while still 9,255 acres is under possession of encroachers, followed by 8,694 acres in Shaheed Benazirabad, 3,971 acres in Shikarpur and 1,793-acre in Kashmore. "Efforts are underway to recover all encroached lands in the province, but no timeframe can be given in this regard," added the minister.

Responding to a question of legislature regarding afforestation in the province, Minister said a PC-I of development scheme namely, "Massive afforestation of Neem (Azadirachta indica), a versatile and promising tree, solving global problems" was approved in 2008-09 at a total cost of Rs50 million,having execution period from 2008-09 to 2012-14.
He said that Rs 30.947 had been spent on the scheme by June 2010. He said the plantation of a Neem tree costs Rs20

When an MPA Arif Mustafa Jatoi sought Minister's response on establishment of Jetropha Plant in Sindh that could be used to make bio-diesel, Ali Nawaz Shah said 10 acres of Jetropha plantation had been completed at Miani Forest under the ADP scheme during year 2009-10.
Minister went on to say that 14-acre of Jetropha research plots would be established at different ecological zones in Sindh, with two acres each during the year 2010-11.
Minister said the inquiry had been initiated into auction of 13,183 acres land in Mirpur Mathelo Guddu Barrage Afforestation division on a meager amount of Rs. 131,000.Shah also told the house that Sindh government had allocated an amount of Rs. 15.442 million for plantation of Neem in Karachi for the year 2009-10 and its target had already been achieved as 2000 saplings were planted in educational institutions while 5000 in government and private building premises during the said financial year.--PPI