As per the directives of the Department of Environment, Govt. of India it is necessary that twice the extent of the forest land required for the project, should be afforested at the cost of the project. The land selected for compensatory afforestation should be non-forest land and in fairly large chunks and, as far as possible, contiguous with an existing forest block with the soil conditions amenable to growth of vegetation. While the cost of compensatory afforestation is to be borne by the Project, it is required to be carried out in coordination with the forest and revenue departments. The M.P. Electricity Board is responsible to effectively implement the compensatory afforestation programme to cover all area of 11,000 ha of selected revenue and degraded forest land in accordance with a time bound programme.

The proposed plantation programme will be completed in 1991. A total area of 5714 ha has been afforested till Dec. 1988 (M.P.E.B. records). Approximately 13,385 ha of unoccupied land in chunks of 50 ha and above consisting of 8075 ha of revenue land and 5310 ha. undemarkated protected forest (orange area) is available for taking up compensatory plantation as against 5516 ha which is required to be clear-felled for the use of the project. At least 1.65 crore plants will be required for afforestation @ 1500 seedlings/ha.

        To carry out the compensatory afforestation programme with due professional assistance, a Divisional Forest Officer and other forest staff have been taken by the MPEB on deputation.

        According to M.P.E.B. records following species are proposed to be raised in the areas identified for the purpose of afforestation :

1. Trees of economic value : Sal, Teak, Bamboo, Bija, Saja, Haldu, Shisham

2. Trees of economic value : Mahua, Imli, Harra, Bahera, to the tribals Amla, Kahua, Char, Tendu, Jamun, Semal

3. Fuel species : Acacia, Subabool, Dhaora, Cassia, Garari etc.

        Four sites of plantation were visited to see the actual situation of plants raised. Details of each site are given below:

1. Site -DEOIDA (Village),    Area = 40 ha      Year 1988

Sal was planted with bahera, mango and bamboo. This is a site which is irrigated. Despite irrigation there was 25% mortality in case of sal.

1. Site -Sinjole area, Area = 70 ha      Year 1988

        Number of plants raised = 68,050

At this site, bamboo, shisham, siris, acacia, imli and karanj were planted. Only Acacia auriculiformis and bamboo seedlings were surviving well. Seedlings of rest of the species showed some mortality and poor condition.

1. Site -Gadheya area,       Area = 80 ha      Year 1988

        Number of plants raised = 66,300

Imli, siris, shisham, amla, karanj, karra and Acacia auriculiformis were planted in this area. Only Acacia was surviving well. We found high mortality among other species.

1. Site -BADRANGA,   Area = 62 ha      Year 1986

        Number of plants raised = 67,699

        Cashew and Mango were planted in this area. Most of the plants were in good condition. Cashew plant attained the height around 1.5 mt.

        The plantations were not fenced but were being protected by chowkidars. The irrigated plantation at Deoida was fenced on one side. All the plantations visited were close to villages but apparently villagers were not involved in their protection. There did not appear any arrangements regarding villagers’ sharing the usufruct of these plantations.

Table 9.1:  Statement showing the details of plants raised during 1988

        Total number of Sal plants planted is 1,52,009.

        Total area afforested by Dec. 1988 is 5714 (M.P.E.B. records).