Social afforestation to begin in CHT at last
PCJSS chief agrees on condition that it will benefit indigenous people and take into account 'reality in hills'
Our Correspondent, Rangamati
The social afforestation progra-mme, opposed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) for long by leaders of indigenous people, will now be implemented following an understanding between them and the government. They have reached an understanding that the programme with some "basic changes" will not affect the indigenous people and their life in any way and take into consideration the "reality in hills". The decision came at a close-door fruitful meeting of PCJSS chief Jiotirindriya Bodhipriyo Larma alias Santu Larma, State Minister for Environment and Forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury and Deputy Minister for CHT Affairs Moniswa-pon Dewan, held recently at Ranga-mati Deputy Commissioner's office, highly placed official sources told this correspondent yesterday. CHT Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Sahjahan Mojumder, Environment and Forest Ministry Joint Secretary Mihir Kanti Mojumder, Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Dr Maniklal Dewan, Khagrachhari Hill District Council Chairman Nokhyatralal Dev Burman and some high officials were also present at the meeting. As per the decision, a Tk108 crore social afforestation programme will be launched in the three hill districts soon. Twenty percent of the about 14.50 lakh acres of forestland in the three hill districts will be initially brought under the programme. In the first phase, afforestation will begin in the reserve forests, many of which are now stripped of timber trees, the sources said. The entire region will be covered by 2015. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council (CHTRC), three hill district councils (HDCs), chiefs of Chakma, Bomang and Mong Circles and Headmen in tribal villages will be involved in the scheme to benefit the hill people. Besides, saplings will be planted along 600 km roads, and bamboo and cane clusters will be raised in 750 hectarets. Nurseries will be arised in each of the 25 upazila headquarters for free distribution of 10 lakh saplings among local people. Santu Larma had earlier opposed the programme during previous Awami League rule saying, "Jumias (indigenous people) would become landless afresh in the name of social afforestation". The PCJSS (Parbattya Chhatta-gram Jana Sanghati Samity) He has changed his position on condition of change in some terms and conditions in the programme, the sources said. The changes are being made, the sources said. "We (indigenous leaders) are not against social afforestation but the project and its implementation strategy should be very clear and it must benefit indigenous people and protect their interest", one official quoted him as saying. "The scheme must be designed in keeping with the reality in hills so that it does not affect their (indigenous people) livelihood in any way ", Larma said. Jafrul Islam Choudhury told the meeting that the programme will not affect the hill people in any way. Rather, it will create employment opportunity for them and help reduce poverty. "We sincerely hope to utilise the great potential in the CHT hills ", he said.
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