Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Forest and Fisheries Minister termed the State Budget presented in the Vidhan Sabha, as a common mans budget dedicated for the welfare of the people of the State. He said that budget had been prepared with great financial prudence keeping in mind the development of all the areas.He said that as many as 1000 thousand families in the State were dependant on fish business for earning their livelihood and due importance had been given to them in the Budget. He welcomed the proposal of starting 'Backyard Fish Farming scheme', under which water ponds would be constructed for rearing fishes.
He also lauded the decision of providing financial and technical assistance for setting up trout fish farms in the State, adding that a provision of Rs 1.90 crore would be provided for renovation of 'Inland Fish Landing Centres' near reservoirs in the State.He hailed the proposal of providing capital outlay of Rs. 422 crore for forest department in the present budget. He also lauded the proposal for treating 5000 hectare of land infested with Lantana Grass so that after removing lantana the same land could be used for planting species of fuel-wood and fodder to restore the productivity of that land.
He said that a decision in regard to raise 45 lakh herbal plant species with an outlay of Rs. 10 crore was a welcome decision. In view of the problems faced by people living in wild life or near sanctuaries areas , the proposal in the budget to take out 775 villages from the sanctuary areas was laudable decision which would benefit more than one lakh people.
He said that adequate measures had been taken to deal with monkey menace. In the present budget a proposal for opening six new monkey sterilization centres in district Chamba, Sirmour, Mandi, Solan, Kangra and Bilaspur would provide relief to the people from growing population of simians, adding that more fruit plants and edible shrubs would be planted in forest areas so that the monkeys get enough food in their natural habitats and may not head towards villages and townships. He said the farmers would also be encouraged to grow crops as ginger, garlic, turmeric etc.
A decision had been taken for maintenance and cleaning of 1000 kilometres fire lines during the current financial year to protect forests fires. He also lauded proposal of devising a policy for collection of spine needles from the forest areas to be utilised in fuel industries and promoting setting up of pine needles based industries.