In what might turn out to be one of the largest man-made forests in the country and a good example of ecological restoration, the Chhattisgarh government is working to convert a huge mining area in Durg district into a green tract with all elements of a natural forest.
The project has been taken up in the worked out areas and unproductive parts in the buffer and surroundings of the Nandini limestone mine in Bhilai, stretched over 3,777 acres.
When the lease of the mines ends in another five years, the main mining area will be converted into a huge deep water body that will become a mainstay of the man-made forest, Durg collector Sarveshwar Bhure told THE WEEK.
Though the afforestation work in the peripheral and buffer areas of the mines was taken up way back in 2007-08, the project was revamped recently and during the past three months 83,000 saplings of forest species of trees have been planted in the area, Bhure said. The project is a joint venture of the Chhattisgarh forest department and Durg district administration.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel visited the project area recently, inspected the ongoing work and planted a banyan sapling there. Upon the CM’s instructions, work of developing an orchard with different species of fruit bearing trees is also being taken up, the collector said.
The Nandini limestone mine is considered one of the biggest in the world. Of the huge tract of 3,777 acres, about 1,300 acres is under actual mining lease while the rest of the buffer and surrounding areas is available for plantation and for development of different elements such as water bodies. Plantation was done on about 1,000 acres of land earlier and another 1,000 acre area has been taken up plantation in the current phase, Bhure said.
The Rs 3.37 crore project aims to convert the entire tract, once available, into a mega man-made forest with orchards, bird habitat and ecotourism elements. “We are aspiring it to become the largest man-made forest in the country. The forest will take actual shape in about another ten years,” the collector added.
Among the 83,000 saplings planted during the past three months include those that give shad and have long lifespan like Peepal and Banyan, typical forest species such as teak, medicinal trees like Harra, Behada, Mahua and others. Along with the earlier plantation, the total number of trees in the area is now around 1.5 lakhs. The work of planting fruit-bearing trees such as guava, mango and others will also be taken up, the collector said. More trees will be planted as land becomes available, he added.
The entire project is being developed in such a way that it will serve as an ideal habitat for birds and could be converted into a bird sanctuary. The availability of ample wetland makes it suitable breeding ground for whistling ducks, open billed storks and other birds, a state government communication said.
Special arrangements would be made for eco-tourism activities in the man-made forest and necessary action plans will be drawn for this purpose, the communication added.
