The Government of Sikkim has launched a unique and innovative programme called “State Green Mission” with the view to raising avenue plantation and beautification of all vacant and waste lands to further reinforce wide spread recognition of Sikkim being a Green State.

Date of Launch: 27th February, 2006 at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok
Please Refer to the following contents for further details

• Government Notification [PDF]
• Presentation on State Green Mission - [during the formal launching programme]
• Overview of the State Green Mission
• Implementation Set Up
• Detailed Project Report (DPR) [PDF]
• Activity Calendar and Field Guidelines [PDF]
• Species Recommended
• Appeal of the HCM to the Mission
• Green Mission in the News [PDF]
• Guidelines to the Green Taxis of Sikkim [PDF]
• Plantation Photographs

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Overview of State Green Mission

The State of Sikkim has been primarily concerned with the conservation & protection of Forests and other natural resources in the state. In the State, though the Greenery along the road side is good it needs to be enhanced to the maximum level to protect the roads from landslides, slips, sinking and also to maintain the aesthetic beauty. It will also reduce land, water, air and noise pollutions as well. The Tourism development equally requires good roads along with the aesthetic cover to attract more tourists. There is a need to have the avenue plantation along all the road sides, generate good green cover in the Government and Institutional vacant lands, development of vacant pockets as small parks. Hence the State Government has taken initiative to generate Avenue plantation in massive scale by using all the manpower in various departments in the Government, and other nature lovers from the Government and Non Governmental Organizations including different Eco clubs and Self Help groups. Accordingly Government has takeout a notification vide no 15/Home/06 dated 24/2/2006 in this regard. Hon’ble Chief Minister has formally launched this programme on 27/2/06 in the presence of his Ministers, officers and the public of Sikkim in the programme organized by the Forest Environment and Wild Life Management department at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok.

Aims and Objectives

1. To create green belt and avenues for meeting aesthetic recreational needs to the people
2. To beautify the areas for tourist attraction.
3. To reduce the surface run-off discharge and checking erosion in the downhill side.
4. To create a store house of genetic diversity by planting all the indigenous trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers, creepers, conifers and green foliages including fruits and medicinal plants.
5. To reduce the encroachment of road reserve areas.
6. To provide shade to the pedestrian.
7. To increase local precipitation due to their aerographic and micro-climatic effects and create conditions favorable for the condensation of the clouds.
8. To reduce temperature and increase humidity.
9. To reduce noise pollution to the neighboring household population.
10. To attract the avifauna, butterflies, squirrels etc and their shelter.
11. To promote tourism as a sustainable and eco friendly activity.
12. To make the State of Sikkim as a Garden State.
13. Mass Afforestation along the roads and vacant land, streams and water falls, etc.

Coverage of the Programme

It has been proposed to take up plantation in the vacant and open lands in the state, it includes the road reserves along the National Highway, State High way, District Roads and Other roads. It is also proposed to take up plantation in the Government and Private vacant lands, along Water falls and streams, Religious Institutions, other Government Institution lands.

Implementing Agency

State Level Committee Hon'ble Chief Minister - Chairman Hon'ble Minister, Forests, Env & WL – Vice Chairman Chief Secretary – Member Addl CS–cum-DC – Member Director General of Police - Member Secretaries of Finance, Industries, Tourism, AHVS, RMDD, HRD, PWD (Roads) Energy and Power, Water Security & PHE, Agriculture and Horticulture – Members PCCF-cum-Secretary – Member Secretary

Functions To provide overall policy guidelines To support implementation mechanism To decide on the coverage of the programme To over see the programme and to ensure timely provision of financial, material and manpower resources

Constituency Level Committee (Green Task Force) Area MLA – Chairperson District Collector – Member Secretary Superintendent of Police – Member All Divisional Forest Officers – Members District Development Officer – Member Joint Directors, AH, Agri, Horti, HRD – Members Divisional Engineers, Roads & Bridges, irrigation, Energy and Power –Members Panchayat/JFMC/EDC presidents– Members Head of NGOs/SHGs – Members

Functions To plan for field implementation To supervise and monitor the implementation and to decide the modalities thereof. To guide the process of implementation To motivate and ensure peoples participation To ensure supply of resources required including man power requirement To ensure plantation and post plantation care by deployment of labor from all the departments

Required man power should be met up by involving

• The M/R laborers from all Government departments
• JFMC, EDC Members
• Volunteers from the Public

Implementation Period

It is proposed to cover all the state within three years right from 2006-07 to 2008-09 in Three Phases

Phase – I - 2006-07

• Investing for production of sapling
• Site selection/Soil working
• 20 % of the plantation target

Phase – II -2007-08

• Active Phase
• 50 % Plantation target
• Maintenance of plantation

Phase – III -2008-09

• Final phase
• 30 % Plantation target
• Maintenance of plantation

Special Programme

Programme of Mass propagation of March-flowering Cherry (Geyzing type), Tree-Fern plantation along the streams and waterfalls, Introduction of Paulonia species, Mass plantation of Eucharis, Zephranthes, Ophiopogon etc wherever suitable space is available, Raising of Alpine plants suitable for avenue purpose, Special nursery for raising Rhododendron for alpine landscapes.

Creation & Development of Recreational Gardens

If there is any special budgetary provision in the Tourism department, it is proposed that sites will be prepared for development of recreational garden in the flank areas and turning points of road where broader area is available. We can take 0.10 ha area on an average in two to three spots in each constituency (Tourism department has to transfer the required funds to the Forest department to avoid the procedure of Forest land diversion). Group of conifers, perennials evergreen ornamental foliage’s, shrubs, bamboos will be planted by laying garden and landscaping. Provisions for fixing of benches for visitors and tourists are proposed within the recreational garden. Toilet facilities will be provided. Water supply for drinking water will be provided. Bridle path with flat stone pavement will be constructed. If the area is sufficient ponds/water bodies will also be created. Maximum technical inputs and improved technologies will be provided for ensuring success of plantation and development of other activities in the recreational garden. If funds are available, the Tourism department can inform the Forest department for further procedures like submission of estimates. Large size sign boards with steel frame( 6’x4’) with names of  the local GTF officials responsible for plantation and its protection.

Protection

Protection from adverse climatic conditions like drought, hailstorms, cattle grazing, human interferences, and wild animals is a must for ensuring good survival rates. Resistant species against the adverse climatic condition and cattle grazing will be advisable. To overcome the problems of cattle grazing and other biotic interferences it is proposed to provide Social fencing Social fencing by involving Voluntary organizations, existing infrastructure/Labor in the Govt, JFMC's, EDCs, SHG’s and other clubs in the state. The District level committee has to  coordinate for future protection

Monitoring & Evaluation

The internal monitoring will be carried out by the Officer of the Constituency level committee and the district officials from the Forest, Env. Wildlife Department. The State level monitoring committee for this purpose will be constituted by the PCCF- cum Secretary in consultation with the State level committee. To look after the overall plantation works, it is proposed to deploy one Conservator of Forests to each district. He should report to the Chief Conservator of Forests meant for two districts. The CCF shall report to the PCCF cum Secretary regarding the progress.

Budgeting Financial Forecast

The budget provision for the various activities under the project will be made from the state plan under appropriate Head of Accounts. The cost norms and the basis of expenditure have been prepared on the basis of the Forestry and SPWD schedule of rates. In the financial year 2006-07 State Government has allocated Rs 2.00 crores for first phase under state plan. Since the proposed task has been divided into three phases it has been proposed to set aside an amount of Rs 60.00lakhs (30% of the allocation) as an advance to raise seedlings for second phase plantation to the selected nurseries for this purpose by the department. And the remaining amount will be spent in first phase of avenue plantation

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Implementation Setup