Bhubaneswar, May 19 -- The geo-referencing of forest land in Odisha is nearing completion, with 95 percent of the work covering approximately 60,000 square kilometer already done.
The initiative aims to support forest conservation, expedite developmental activities, safeguard tribal rights over forest land, enable the collection of non-timber forest produce by communities residing near forest areas, and help resolve disputes related to forest boundaries.
The project is being executed under the guidance of the Centrally Empowered Committee, constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, following directions from the Supreme Court after reviewing multiple related cases.
A review meeting held on Monday was chai...