Protection

The State of Chhattisgarh has 59,772 Sq. Km. of forest areas, which constitutes 44.2% of the total geographical area of the state. The state has got very good vegetal cover in every part of it. The vegetation is comprised of Sal, Teak and miscellaneous forests. There are 3810 beats, 876 Range Assistant circles, 279 ranges, 74 subdivisions and 32 forest divisions in the State.

The beat, which is generally comprised of 4 or 5 compartments. The state has embarked upon JFM programme to protect its forests. There are 7887 forest management committees working in the state through which 36,886 sq. km. forest area is being protected. A strong sense of belongingness and ownership with forest resources may be seen among the people of many villages as they have strongly defended their forest.

There is a regulatory practice of beat inspection as per the annual roster plan approved by CF of the circle. Forester/deputy ranger/range officer/SDO and DFOs have been entrusted the responsibility of beat inspection in their respective jurisdiction. There are 1420 saw mills in the state mostly installed in large numbers in Rajnandgaon, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Janjgir–champa, Jagdalpur and Ambikapur. The field staff as per roster is inspecting saw mills regularly. To prevent theft and illicit transport of timber/ wildlife trophies and other forest produce there are 330 forests checking barriers within the state and 35 barriers are functioning in the inter–state border.

To counter forest offenders, forest guards, foresters and deputy rangers who are posted in the forest divisions for maintenance of public order relating to forest protection have been strengthened with the provision of section 197 (2) of CrPC 1973 There are flying squads in the leadership of forest ranger in each division and in each circle to search any place for which information regarding hoarding of illicit timber, poaching, illicit transport etc. are reported. One flying squad in the leadership of one ACF is deployed with wireless set and a phone in the office of the PCCF to act immediately in the case of emergency at state level.

The state Govt. has written .off 2,06,050 forest offence cases registered against the forest offenders prior to 30/06/2004. The value of the forest produce under theft worth Rs. 12,76,61,625/- has also been written off. This decision has benefited 36,298 people of scheduled castes, 1,08,890 people of scheduled tribes and 75,425 people of other categories.

To equip the forest staff with modem communication system 347 sets of fixed wireless, 721 mobile sets and 197 handsets are provided. Through wireless networks each division is connected with headquarter and information is exchanged regularly. To face any eventualities in naxalite sensitive areas, the forest guards, foresters, deputy rangers, rangers and SDOs are being imparted jungle warfare training. The CCF in charge of the district/division is carrying out the regular monitoring as regard to the forest protection.

Protection related inventory is maintained at state level by acquiring information on monthly and quarterly .bases on various proformas designed by head quarter.

Under integrated forest protection scheme the following works are undertaken every year. 

1. Clearance and maintenance of fire lines. 
2. Construction of water storage structures. 
3. Providing fire-fighting equipments. 
4. Fire mapping & fire management plans. 
5. Training and awareness of staff/JFM committee members.

Under this scheme 75% share is given by central Govt. and 25% share by state Government. Under the scheme strengthening the infrastructure for forest protection, building construction, building of forest roads, culverts, construction of boundary pillars, equipments of survey and demarcation, purchase of satellite imageries and functioning of FMIS workstation, providing computer accessories, vehicles and imparting training to staffs etc. are also undertaken.

The budget allocated to Chhattisgarh State under the central scheme and the state non plan asfollows:

The forest protection work in the state is monitored at state level by Chief Conservator of Forests (Protection) under the guidance of the PCCF.