Working Plan of Dehra Forest Division for the Period

Home , Datarpur, Jaswan, Kangra State, Nagrota Surian

WORKING PLAN OF DEHRA FOREST DIVISION

FOR THE PERIOD OF 2012- 2013 to 2021-2022

VOLUME-1 (PART-I & PART-II)

G.R. SAHIBI, IFS Conservator of Forests cum WPO Dehra

CONTENTS

Subject Paragraph Page

P a r t - 1 SUMMARY OF FACTS ON WHICH THE PROPOSALS ARE BASED CHAPTER - I THE TRACT DEALT WITH Name and situation 1 2 Configuration of ground 1.2 2 Geology, rock and soil 1.3 2 Upper Shivaliks 1.3.2 2 Pinjor Boulders Bed 1.3.3 2 Geology of Dehra 1.3.4 2 Soil and Forest Distribution 1.4 3 Climate 1.5 3 Rain Data Table- 1 3 Some rain fall data of Dharamsala Table- 2 4 Temperature/Humidity Table -3 4-5 Water supply 1.6 5 Distribution of area 1.7 5-6 Area Statement Table-4 6 Statement of seismic information Table-5 6

State of boundaries table-6 7 Expenditure on Boundary Pillars Table-6 7 Legal position 1.9 8 Barne’s Land Revenue Settlement (1849-1852) 1.9.1 8 BanMuafi and unclassed Forests 1.9.2 8 Lyall’s Revised Land Revenue Settlement 1.9.3 8-9 (1865-1869) Scheme of Roe and Duff (1872-1875) 1.9.4 9 Anderson’s Forest Settlement (1883-1887) 1.9.5 9-10 Species U/S 30 (a) IFA Table-7 10-11 GibsonS Forest settlement 1.9.6 12

Middletion’s Revised Land Revenue Settlement 1.9.7 12 Mitchell and Walter’s Rotational Closure Scheme 1.9.8 12-13 Summary of the Results of the Settlement and 1.9.9 14 Schemes The Co-opperative Forest Societies: 1.10 14 Active JFMCs in Dehra Table 8 14 Note on abolition of Payment of haq-chuharam 1.10.1 15 The Himachal Pradesh common land Act 1974 1.11 15 The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 1.12 15 Legal Position 1.13 15 Rights & concessions 1.13.2 15 Rights in reserved forests 1.13.4 16 Rights in protected forests 1.13.5 16 Rights in un-classed forests 1.13.6 16 Summary of principal rights 1.14 17 T.D. Rights in Dehra Division 1.14.1 17-18 Present Position 1.14.2 18-19 Backing up of land for cultivation 1.14.3 19 Timber for building purpose 11.4.4 19-20 Rates Table-9 20 From DPF Table-10 20-23 Timber and wood for burning the dead, funeral 1.14.5 24 and marriage ceremonies, agricultural implements Grant for marriage and funeral etc Table-11 25 Grazing 1.14.6 26 Gaddi Grazing 1.14.6.1 26 Lopping 1.14.7 26-27 Zimindari shares 1.14.8 27 Survey and Demarcation 1.15 27 Constitution of DPF 1.16 27

CHAPTER – II

FLORA AND FAUNA The Forest Flora 2 A 2 8 Composition and distribution of Forest 2.1 28 Miscellaneous Scrub Forests 2.2 28 Type 5B/C2 Mixed Deciduous Forests 2.21 28-29 Trees 2.2.2 29 Shrubs 2.2.3 29 Grasses 2.2.4 29 Climbers 2.2.5 29 Type 5B/DSI Dry Deciduous scrub 2.2.3 29 Type 9Cla Lower Shiwalik Chil Pine Forests 2.4 29-30 Type 5B/E9 Dry Bamboo brakes 2.5 30 Floristic 2.5.1 30-31 Area covered under Forest type Table-12 31 General description of growing stock 2.6 31 Injuries to which crop is liable 2.7 31 Fire 2.7.1 31-32 Range wise Forest fire report Table-13 32-33 Faulty Resin Tapping and consequences 2.8 34 Blazes Table-13A 34 Climate 2.9 35 Climate Change 2.9.1 35 Drought 2.1 35 Erosion 2.11 35 Wind 2.12 35 Lopping 2.13 35-36 Illicit Lopping Table-13B 36 Grass cutting 2.14 36 Marking and Felling 2.15 36 Insects and Fungi 2.16 36-37 Climbers 2.17 37 Alien Invasive Species 2.18 37 Lantana assessment Survey Table-14 37 Grazing 2.19 37 Cattle census Table- 15 37

Grazing Permits Table-16 38 Encroachments 2.20 38 Encroachment Cases Table -17 38 Boundary Pillars Table 18 39 Human Leopard Conflict Cases Table 19 39 Monkey Problem Areas 2.20.2 39-40 Approximate Number of Monkey Table-20 40 Details of Vulture nesting sites 2.20.3 40 Pong Wet Land Map 2.20.3 41

CHAPTER - III UTILIZATION OF THE PRODUCE

Human Population 3.1 42-43 Market & marketable- products 3.2 43 Resin 3.2.1 43 Bamboo 3.2.2 43 Details of Bamboo and resin extraction Table 22 43 Chil Timber and Pulpwood 3.2.3 43 Katha 3.2.4 43 Katha Export Table-23 44 Firewood and Charcoal 3.2.5 44 Line of Export 3.3 44 Past and current prices 3.4 44 Cost of various Forest products of Fatehpur Div Table-24 44 Cost of various Forest products ofHamirpur Div Table-25 45

CHAPTER - IV ACTIVITIES OF H.P. STATE FOREST DEV. CORPORATION Harvesting and Marketing of Forest Produce 4.1 46 An undertaking of HP Govt. 4.1.1 46

The Objectives of Corporation 4.1.2 46 Expertise of Corporation 4 . 1 . 3 4 6 Resin Processing 4 . 1 . 4 4 6 Awarding Tenders 4 . 1 . 5 4 6 Jursidiction of Forest Working Divisions 4.1.6 46 Chil Govt. Lot Worked in Fatehpur Forest Table—26 4 7 Working Division Chil Pvt. Lot Worked in Fatehpur Forest Table-27 4 7 Working Division Lots worked in Dehra FD under FCA through Fatehpur FWD Table -28 47 Resin Extracted from Dehra FD and dispatched To R&T Bilaspur Table-29 48 Govt. Lot Worked in Dehra FD through FWD Table-30 4 8 Hamirpur Pvt.. Lot Worked in Dehra FD through FWD Table-31 4 8 H a m i r p u r Govt.Chil Lot Worked in Dehra FD through FWD Tab l e - 3 2 4 9 F a t e h p u r Pvt.Chil Lot Worked in Dehra FD through FWD Table- 3 3 4 9 Details FCA removals through Fatehpur FWD Table-34 4 9 Bamboo lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD F a t e h p u r Table-35 50 Resin TAPPING 4 . 3 5 0 Rill Method 4 . 3 . 1 5 0 Freshening 4.3.2 50-51 Application of stimulant 4 . 3 . 3 5 1 Tapping Season 4 . 3 . 4 5 1 Use of guide 4 . 3 . 5 5 1 Installation during Subsequent years 4.3.6 51

CHAPTER – V

FORESTRY UNDER VARIOUS FIVE YEARS PLAN

General 5.1 52 1 s t Five Year Plan Table-36 52 Ii nd Five Year Plan Table-37 52-53 III rd Five Year Plan Table -38 53 IVth Five Year Plan Table-39 53 Vth Five Year Plan Table-40(A) 54 VIth Five Year Plan Table-40(B) 54 VIIth Five Year Plan Table-40(C) 54-55 VIIIth Five Year Plan Table-40(D) 55 IXth Five Year Plan Table-40(E) 55-56 X th Five Year Plan Table-40(F) 56 XI th Five Year Plan Table-40(G) 56

CHAPTER - VI STAFF AND LABOUR SUPPLY Staff 6.1 57 Position of Staff AS ON 01-01-2012 Table-41 57 Labour Supply 6.2 57 Daily Wagers rates changes Table 42 58

CHAPTER - VII PAST SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT Early history of Guler State 7.1 59-61 Siba State 7.2 61-62 Dehra forests in the past 7.3 62-63 General History of the Forests 7.4 63 Past systems of management and their results 7.8 64 The period of organization 7.8.1 65 The period of transition 7.8.2 65

The period of scientific management 7.8.3 66 Hertz Working Plan 7.8.4 66 Pine Working Circle 7.9.1 66 Scrub Working Circle 7.9.2 66 The Oak Working Circle 7.9.3 66 Results 7.9.5 66 The scheme of rotational closures 7.10 66-67 by Mitchell and Walters Waiter's Working Plan 7.11 67 Kangra Pine Working Circle 7.11.1 67 The Oak Working Circle 7.11.2 68 Deodar and Fir Working Circle 7.11.3 68 The Coppice Working Circle 7.11.4 68 The Unworkable Working Circle 7.11.5 68 Mohan's Working Plan (1933-34 to 1950-51) 7.12 68 The Chil Shelterwood working circle 7.12.1 68-69 The Oak Shelterwood working circle 7.12.2 69 The Coppice Working Circle 7.12.3 69-70 The Selection Working Circle 7.12.4 70 The Protection Working Circle 7.12.5 70 Summary of Mohan’s Plan 7.12.6 70 Revised Working Plan of Romesh 1950-51 7.13 70 Revised Working Plan of Malhotra’s 7.14-7.29 72-82 Rewals Integrated Working Plan 7.30-7.34 82-96 MP Singh Plan (1981-82 to 7.35 96-98 1995-96) Baldev Singhs Fifth Working Plan 7.35.1 98

CHAPTER - VIII STATISTICS OF GROWTH AND YIELD General 8 Volume table for the right bank 8 Table49 99 Volume Table for various height classes 8.1 Table50 99 Volume table for the left bank 8.2 Table51 99-100 Diameter Age Relationship 8.3 Table52 100 Volume Increment table for the 8.4Table53(A) 100-101 right bank felling series Volume Increment table for the 8.4.1 Table53(B) 101 Left bank felling series Volume Table for Mixed B.L. Species 8.5 Table 54 101 Fuel wood 8.6 101 Stocking per hectare classification Table 55 102 Khair 8.7 Table56-59102 103 Annual mortality rate 8.8 104 Volume and weight Table60 104 Some conversion factors 8.9 104 Charcoal 8.9.1 104 Quality classes 8.10 104 Density 8.11 104 Stock Maps 8.12 104 Enumeration 8.13 105 Regeneration Survey 8.14 104-105 Sal 8.14.1Table 60(A) 105

CHAPTER - IX ESTIMATE OF CAPITAL VALUE OF FORESTS Growing Stock Estimates 9 106 Land 9.1 106 Growing Stocks 9.2 106

CHAPTER - I BASIS OF PROPOSAL General objects of management 1 107 Chil Shelter wood Working Circle 1.2 107 Coppice Working Circle 1.2.1 108 The Bamboo Re-habilitation Working Circle 1.3 108 The Protection-cum-Rehabilitation Working Circle 1 . 4 1 0 8 Khair (overlapping) working circle 1.5 108 Plantation Working Circle 1 . 6 1 0 8 Wild Life Working Circle 1 . 7 1 0 8 Joint Forest Planning & Management Working Circle 1 . 8 1 0 9 NTFP Working Circle 1 . 8 . 1 1 0 9 Area covered by different species 1.9 109 Percentage of area covered by different species Table-61 109 Felling series 1 . 1 0 1 1 0 Blocks and Compartments 1.11 110 Nomenclature 1.12 110 Soil Survey 1 . 1 3 1 1 0 The Period of Plan 1.14 111 Area Statement Working Circle Wise Table- 6 2 1 1 2

CHAPTER - II CHIL SHELTER WOOD WORKING CIRCLE General Constitution and Character of Vegetation 2 . 1 1 1 3 Special objects of management 2.3 113 Area and allotment 2.4 114 Felling Series Table-63-67 114 Analysis and valuation of the crop 2.5 115 R.B. felling series Table 68-72 115-117 Area covered by different class of Forest in Left B ank Felling series 1&11 Table -73-77 117-118 Silvicultural system 2.7 119 Choice of species 2 . 8 1 1 9 Rotation and Conversion Period 2.9 119 Regeneration Period 2.10 120 Reducing Factor and Reduced Area 2.11 120 Division into periods & allotment to periodic block 2.12 120 Calculation of yield 2.13 120 Control of yield 2.15 122 Subsidiary silvicultural operations in P.B. areas 2.16 123 CHAPTER - III COPPICE WORKING CIRCLE General constitution and character of Vegetation 3.1 125 Blocks and compartment 3.2 125 Special objects of management 3.3 125 Area and allotment 3.4 125 Analysis and valuation of crop 3.5 125 Khair Enumeration Table-86 126 Silvicultural system 3.6 125 Rotation, exploitable- diameter & regeneration period 3.7 126 Calculation of yield 3.8 126 Sequence of felling Table -87 127-132 Planting of programme 3.9 133 Subsidiary silvicultural operations 3.10 133

CHAPTER – IV THE PLANTATION WORKING CIRCLE General constitution and character of vegetation 4.1.1 134 Blocks and compartment 4.1.2 134 Plantation Series 4 . 1 . 3 1 3 4 Special objects of management 4.2 134 Area & Allotment 4.3 134 Analysis and valuation and crop 4.4 135 Khair Enumeration Table-89 135 Chil Enumeration Table-90 135 Silvicultural system 4.5 135 Choice of Species 4.6 135 Rotation and Conversion Period 4.7 135 Calculation of yield 4.8 136 Method of executing felling 4.9 136 Sequence of Felling 4.10 136 Sequence of Felling Table-91 136 Sequence of Planting Table 92 136 Subsidiary silvicultural operations 4.13 138-139

CHAPTER – V THE PROTECTION CUM REHABILITATION WORKING CIRCLE

General prescription 5.1.2 140 Block and Compartments 5.1.3 140 Special object of management 5.2 140 Area and allotment 5.2.1 141 Area and allotment Table- 94 141 Analysis and valuation of crop 5.3 141 Chil Enumeration Table- 95 141 Khair enumeration Table96 -97 141 B.L. enumeration Table-98 142 Silvicultural system 5.5 142 Protection from Fire 5.10 142 Soil and Water conservation 5.11 144 Invasive Alien Species 5.12 145-150

CHAPTER – VI KHAIR (OVERLAPPING) WORKING CIRCLE General constitution and character of vegetation 6.1 151 Special objects of management 6.2 151 Analysis and valuation of crop 6.3 151 Khair enumeration of felling series I & II Table- 102-105 151-152 Silvicultural System 6.3.2 152 Exploitation Diameter 6.3.3 152 Felling Circle 6.3.4 152 Calculation of Yield 6.4 152 Yield statement Table- 106 152 Sequence of Felling Table-106(a) 154-159

CHAPTER – VII BAMBOO CUM REHABLITATION WORKING CIRCLE General 7.1 160 Blocks & Compartments 7.2 160 Special Objects of Management 7.3 160 Area Statement 7.4 160 Distribution of area 7.5 16 Range wise and Forest wise distribution of area Table108 160 Enumeration 7.6 161 Analysis & Valuation of Crop 7.7 161 Silvicultural System 7.8 161 Rotation 7.9 161 Felling Cycle 7.10 161 Calculation of yield 7.11 161 Sequence of Felling 7.12 161 Sequence of Felling Table- 109 161 Methods of Executing Felling 7.13 161 Subsidiary Silvicultural Operation 7.14 162

CHAPTER - VIII WILD LIFE MANAGEMENT (OVERLAPPING) WORKING CIRCLE General Constitution 8.1 163 Objective Of Management 8.2 163 Human Wild Life conflict Management 8.3.1 163 Human /Leopard conflict cases 110 163 Wild Life Compensation Table-111 164 Monkeys Table-112 164 Wild Boar 8.3.2.1 165 Vulture Conservation 8.4 165 Vulture nesting site 113 165 List Of Migratory And Local Birds Table-115 166-167 Strengthening the Administrative Setup 8.2 168 Animal Health Care 8.3 169 Public Awareness 8.4 169 Publicity 8.5 169 Organizing Educational Tours & Visits & Competition 8.6 169 Shrubs & Trees 8.7 170 Adjoining Catchment Area, Khad and Nallas Draining Into Pong Dam 8.8 170 Table- 116 170 Sequence of Works required to be done 8.9 170 Soil Conservation Works 8.10 171 Watching Towers 8.11 171-172 Enforcing Provision of Wild Life Protection Act 1972 8.12 172

Registration of Guns 8.12.1 172 Restriction on entry 8.12.2 172 Vaccination 8.12.3 172 Rationalization of Protected areas 8.12.4 172 Collaring and satellite tracking studies of migratory birds in Pong Dam 8.12.5 172

CHAPTER - IX JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT (OVERLAPPING) WORKING CIRCLE

Joint Forest Management in H.P 9.1 173-174 Objectives 9.4 176 JFMCs in Dehra Table 118 178-179 Plantation done in JFMC s in Dehra Table119 180-183

CHAPTER – X

NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCE(OVERLAPPING)WORKING CIRCLE

General constitution 10.1 184 Special objects of management 10.2 184 Blocks and compartments 10.3 184 Area statement 10.4 184 Analysis and evaluation of the crop Table 120 184-185 Stock Maps 10.6 185 Rotational extraction 10.8 185 Forest species of Tropical Himalaya in Trade Table 121 187

CHAPTER - XI

MISCELLANEOUS REGULATION Patty Felling 11.1 188 Deviation 11.2 188 Repair of existing Roads and Paths 11.4 188 New Buildings 11.5 188 Water Supply 11.7 188 Drought 11.8 188 Maintenance of Boundary Pillars 11.9 188-189 Quinquenial Programme for cheking and Maintenance of Boundary Pillars Table122 189

Maintenance of Revenue Maps 11.10 190 Rights and concession 11.11 190 Maps 11.13 190 Lopping 11.14 190 Illicit Lopping in last fifteen years Table 11.15 190

CHAPTER - XII ESTABLISHED AND LABOUR List of DFOs in Dehra Division 12.1 192 Staff 12.2 192 Demarcation Staff 12,2,1 192 Forest Workers 12.2.2 193 Labour supply 12.2.3 193 The Roll of CBOs/NGOs/SHGs 12.2.4 193

CHAPTER - XIII CONTROL AND RECORDS Compartment history files 13.1 194-195 Control forms and Deviation statement 13.2 195 Plantation journals 13.3 195 Nursery Journals 13.4 195 Boundary Pillars Register 13.5 195 Fire records 13.6 196 Register of Roads, Paths and Buildings 13.7 196 Resin Tapping Monitoring 13.8 196

CHAPTER – XIV FINANCIAL FORECAST Financial Forecast 14.1 197-200 CHAPTER- X V SUMMARY OF PRESCRI P T I O N S Summary of prescription and suggestions 15.1 201 Chil Shelter wood Working Circle 15.2 201 Coppice Working Circle 15.3 201 The Plantation Working Circle 15.4 201 Protection Working Circle 15.5 202 Khair (overlapping)Working Circle 15.6 202 The Bamboo Working Circle 15.7 202 The Wild Life Management(Overlapping)Working Circle 15.8 202-203 The JFM(Overlapping) Working Circle 1 5 . 9 2 0 3 The NTFP Working Circle 15.10 203 Miscellaneous Regulations 15.11 203 Establishment and labour 15.12 203 Control and Records 15.13 203-204 Financial Forecast/Statement of cost of Plan 15.14 2 0 4 Digital maps of Dehra Forest Division and its Range s, (A,B, C,D,E) 205-209 List of Signatories to Dehra Working Plan,(F) 210 Approval of Working Plan,(G) 211-2 1 2

Glossary of Botanical Names:- S. No. Family Botanical Name Local Vernacular name 1 Acanthaceae Adhatoda zeylanica (=A. vasica) Basuti 2 Acanthaceae Strobilanthes auriculata Kapur minngar 3 Agavaceae Agave americana Ram ban 4 Amaranthaceae Deeringia amaranthoides (=D. Bhirang celosioides) 5 Anacardiceae Lannea coromandelica Kehmal 6 Anacardiceae Mangifera indica Am 7 Anacardiceae Pistacia integerrima Kakrain 8 Anonaceae Miliusa velutina Chopar chilla 9 Apocynceae Carissa opaca Garuna 10 Apocynceae Holarrhena pubescens (=H. Keor antidysenterica) 11 Apocynceae Ichinocarpus frutescens Bakkarbel (=Quirivelia frutescens) 12 Apocynceae Nerium oleander (=N. odorum) Ghanira Gandheela 13 Apocynceae Vallaris solanacea (=V. heynei) Dudh bel 14 Apocynceae Wrightia arborea (=W. Khalawa tomentosa) 15 Arecaceae (=Palmae) Phoenix sylvestris Khajoor 16 Asclepiadaceae Calotropis procera Ak 17 Asclepiadaceae Cryptolepis buchananii Jaman khumb 18 Asclepiadaceae Dregia volubilis (=Wattakaka Mund bel volubilis) 19 Asclepiadaceae Periploca calophylla Sarpri 20 Asclepiadaceae Tylophora hirsuta Terni 21 Asteraceae (=Compositae) Ageratum conyzoides Gha buti 22 Bignoniaceae Oroxylum indicum Tatplanga 23 Bignoniaceae Stereospermum chelonoides Padal 24 Bombacaceae Bombax cieba Simal 25 Cactaceae Opuntia elatior Chhittar Chhun 26 Caeselpinaceae Bauhinia malabarica Kacnnar, Karal 27 Caeselpinaceae Bauhinia purpurea 28 Caeselpinaceae Bauhinia vahlii Taur 29 Caeselpinaceae Bauhinia variegata Kachnar, Karal 30 Caeselpinaceae Caesalpinia decapetala Ralan, Arlu 31 Caeselpinaceae Cassia fistula Kaniar Amaltas, Alis 32 Caeselpinaceae Cassia occidentalis Chakunda 33 Caeselpinaceae Cassia tora Panwar 34 Cannabinaceae Cannabis sativa Bhang

35 Capparaceae Capparis sepiaria Hiun garna 36 Capparaceae Crataeva religiosa Barna 37 Celastraceae Cassine glauca Mirgu

38 Celastraceae Celastrus paniculatus Sankhiran 39 Celastraceae Euonymus pendulus Bharmela 40 Celastraceae Maytenus royleana Bhadrun (=Gymnosporia royleana) 41 Combretaceae Anogeissus latifolus Dhao. Chhal 42 Combretaceae Terminalia alata (=T. tomentosa) Asian Sain 43 Combretaceae Terminalia arjuna Arjan 44 Combretaceae Terminalia bellirica Bahera 45 Combretaceae Terminalia chebula Harar 46 Convolvulaceae Argyreia nasirii (=Lettsmia thomsonii) 47 Convolvulaceae Ipomoea turpethum 48 Convolvulaceae Porana paniculata Faindal 49 Cuscutaceae Cuscuta reflexa Agas bel 50 Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea belophylla 51 Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea bulbifera 52 Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea deltoides Jung kinch 53 Dipterocarpaceae Shorea robusta Sal 54 Ebenaceae Diospyros chloroxylon Kinnu 55 Ebenaceae Diospyros cordifolia Kala dhao 56 Ebenaceae Diospyros montana Kendu 57 Ehretiaceae (=Cordiaceae) Cordia dichotoma (=C. myxa) Lasura 58 Ehretiaceae (=Cordiaceae) Cordia vestita Kumbhi 59 Ehretiaceae (=Cordiaceae) Ehretia acuminata Sakar 60 Ehretiaceae (=Cordiaceae) Ehretia laevis Chamorar 61 Euphorbiaceae Antidesma acidum Amla 62 Euphorbiaceae Bischofia javanica Marak 63 Euphorbiaceae Bridelia squamosa Gaddi 64 Euphorbiaceae Drypetes roxburghii (=Putranjiva Putajen roxburghii) 65 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia royleana Kuri Thor, Chhun 66 Euphorbiaceae Glochidion velutinum Chamar -saman 67 Euphorbiaceae Jatropha curcas Jamnota 68 Euphorbiaceae Mallotus philippensis Kamal 69 Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus emblica (=Emblica Amla officinalis) 70 Fabaceae Abrus precatorius Rattak 71 Fabaceae Butea monosperma Dhak, Plah 72 Fabaceae Cajanus volubilis (=Atylosia Bantaur crassa) 73 Fabaceae Dalbergia sissoo Shisham Tali 74 Fabaceae Desmodium motorium Dudli 75 Fabaceae Desmodium velutinum Jagru 76 Fabaceae Erythrina glabrescens Pariara Paliaro 77 Fabaceae Flemingia semialata Bara Solpan

78 Fabaceae Indigofera dosua Kathi 79 Fabaceae Milletia extensa Salangan 80 Fabaceae Mucuna pruriens Gajal bel 81 Fabaceae Ougeinia ougeinensis Sandan, Sanan 82 Fabaceae Pongamia pinnata (=Derris Sukhchain indica) 83 Fabaceae Pueraria tuberosa Salod 84 Flacourtiaceae Casearia elliptica Chilla 85 Flacourtiaceae Flacourtia indica (=F. ramontchi) Kangu 86 Flacourtiaceae Xylosoma longifolium Chirandi 87 Juglandaceae Engelhardtia spicata var. Samma colebrookiana 88 Lamiaceae (=Labiatae) Colebrookia oppositifolia Dusen 89 Lamiaceae (=Labiatae) Pogostemon plectranthoides Kali basuti 90 Lamiaceae (=Labiatae) Roylea cinearea Kararoi Tila pati 91 Lauraceae Persea gamblei Badrol 92 Liliaceae Asparagus racemosus Satmuli, Musli 93 Linaceae Reinwardtia indica Basant 94 Loranthaceae Dendrophthoe falcata Parand 95 Lythraceae Woodfordia fruticosa (=W. Dhawin, Dhawi floribunda) 96 Malpighiaceae Aspidopterys wallichii Jugter Dhur bel 97 Malpighiaceae Hiptage benghalensis (=H. Malti wan madablota) 98 Malvaceae Urena lobata Unga 99 Meliaceae Azadirachta indica Nim 100 Meliaceae Melia azedarach Drek,Dek,Bakain 101 Meliaceae Toona ciliata Tun Tun 102 Menispermaceae Cocculus laurifarius Paror 103 Menispermaceae Stephania elegans Batindu 104 Mimosaceae Acacia catechu Khair 105 Mimosaceae Acacia leucophloea Reru, Riur 106 Mimosaceae Acacia modesta Phalai 107 Mimosaceae Acacia nilotica spp. indica Kikar 108 Mimosaceae Albizia chinensis Ohi 109 Mimosaceae Albizia lebbeck Siris, Sarin 110 Mimosaceae Albizia odoratissima Karmaru 111 Mimosaceae Mimosa himalayana Dargarhi 112 Moraceae Ficus benghalensis Barh, Bohar 113 Moraceae Ficus hispida Dagur 114 Moraceae Ficus nemoralis Dudla 115 Moraceae Ficus palmata Dura, Dogla 116 Moraceae Ficus racemosa (=F. glomerata) Rumbal 117 Moraceae Ficus religiosa Pipal 118 Moraceae Ficus rumphii Palakh

119 Moraceae Ficus sarmentosa (=F. foveolata) Rudhar 120 Moraceae Ficus semicordata(=F. cunia) Kandroi 121 Moraceae Ficus subincisa (=F. clavata) Karanda 122 Moraceae Ficus virens (=F. infectoria) Padari 123 Moraceae Morus alba Tut 124 Moraceae Morus australis Sia -tut 125 Moraceae Morus macroura (=M. laevigata) Shah -tut 126 Moraceae Morus serrata Karun (cultivated) 127 Moringaceae Moringa oleifera Sanan Suhanjua 128 Myrsinaceae Ardisia solanacea 129 Myrsinaceae Maesa indica Burkani 130 Myrsinaceae Myrsine africana Chhota mendhru 131 Myrtaceae Careya arborea Handabhera 132 Myrtaceae Eugenia jambolana var. Kathaman caryophyllifolia 133 Myrtaceae Syzygium cumini Jaman 134 Oleaceae Jasminum arborescens Dhur -malti 135 Oleaceae Jasminum dispermum Sarain 136 Oleaceae Jasminum grandiflorum Malti 137 Oleaceae Jasminum multiflorum Banmalti 138 Oleaceae Linociera intermedia Masandaru 139 Oleaceae Nyctanthes arbor -tristis Kuri, Hurshjngar 140 Oleaceae Olea ferruginea Kao 141 Pinaceae (=Coniferae) Pinus roxburghii Chil 142 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Artistida adscensionis (=A. Lambi depressa) 143 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Bambusa arundinacea Magar(Cultivated) 144 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Chrysopogan montana Dholu 145 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Cymbopogan martinii Makora gha 146 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Mohar (Cultivated) 147 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Dendrocalamus strictus Bans Bain 148 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Eulaliopsis binata Bhabar, Bagar 149 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Hetropogon contortus Lambu 150 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Saccharum spontaneum Kahi 151 Poaceae (=Gramineae) Sorghum nitidum Lunji 152 Punicaceae Punica granatum Anar, Doran 153 Raunnanculaceae Clematis gouriana Jhol 154 Raunnanculaceae Clematis grata Charki 155 Raunnanculaceae Clematis roylei (=C. nutans) Coibru, Machrun 156 Rhamnaceae Rhamnus triqueter Gulodan 157 Rhamnaceae Sageretia filiformis (=S. Girgithan oppositifolia) 158 Rhamnaceae Zizyphus mauritiana (Z. jujuba) Ber 159 Rhamnaceae Zizyphus oenoplia Kokal -ber 160 Rosaceae Pyrus pashia Kainth

161 Rosaceae Rubus niveus (=R. lasiocarpus) Kala akha 162 Rosaceae Rubus paniculatus Akha 163 Rubiaceae Catunaregam spinosa (=Randia Rara dumetorum) 164 Rubiaceae Himalrandia tetrasperma Jindru (=Randia tetrasperma) 165 Rubiaceae Hymenodictyon orixense (=H. Barthua excelsum) 166 Rubiaceae Mitragyna parvifolia Kalan 167 Rubiaceae Spermadictyon sauveolens Gullhain (=Hamiltonia suaveolens) 168 Rubiaceae Wendlandia heynei Pansera 169 Rutaceae Aegle marmelos Bil 170 Rutaceae Murraya koenigii Gandhla 171 Rutaceae Murraya paniculata Nargan 172 Rutaceae Naringi crenulata (=Limonia Barnahi Billan acidissima) 173 Salicaceae Salix tetrasperma Badhla 174 Santalaceae Osyris wightiana Sason 175 Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa Maindhor 176 Sapindaceae Sapindus mukorossi Ritha 177 Sapotaceae Madhuca indica Mahua (introduced) 178 Saurauiaceae Saurauia napaulensis Bhakara 179 Sterculiaceae Helicteres isora Maror phalli 180 Tiliaceae Grewia eriocarpa (=G. elastica) Phalsa 181 Tiliaceae Grewia optiva (G. oppositifolia) Biul, Dhaman 182 Tiliaceae Grewia serrulata (=G. laevigata) Dhamriana Damani 183 Ulmaceae Holoptelea integrifolia Rajain, Pardesi 184 Ulmaceae Trema politoria Kasa Kuri 185 Urticaceae Boehmeria platyphylla Padara 186 Urticaceae Boehmeria rugulosa Ligga 187 Verbenaceae Callicarpa macrophylla 188 Verbenaceae Caryopteris odorata Ban -basuti 189 Verbenaceae Clerodendrum phlomidis Dhakkari 190 Verbenaceae Gmelina arborea Ban 191 Verbenaceae Lantana camara Lantana, Ukkal Buti, Panjphulli 192 Verbenaceae Premna barbata Ginani 193 Verbenaceae Premna mucronata Bhankahar, Gin 194 Verbenaceae Tectona grandis Sagwan (introduced) 195 Verbenaceae Vitex negundo Bana 196 Vitaceae Ampelocissus latifolia Giddar Dakh 197 Vitaceae Cayratia trifolia Chamar bel 198 Vitaceae Vitis flexuosa (=V. parvifolia)

LIST OF ANIMALS, LOCAL BIRDS AND MIGRATORY BIRDS:- Sr. Name 0f Species Sr.no Name 0f Species Sr. Name 0f Species no no 1 Common Pochard 51 Common Merganser 101 Common crow 2 Bar-headed Goose 52 Black-winged Stilt 102 Red jungle fowl 3 Northern Pintail 53 Median (Intermediate) Egret 103 Common sparrow 4 Common Coot 54 Lesser Whistling Duck 104 Lizard 5 Great Cormorant 55 White-breasted Waterhen 105 Monitor Common (Green -winged) Viper Snake 6 56 106 Teal Green Sandpiper 7 Litte Cormorant 57 Citrine Wagtail 107 King cobra snake 8 River Tern 58 Paddyfield Pipit 108 Barking deer 9 Tufted Pochard 59 Black Kite 109 Squirrel 10 Gadwall 60 White-breasted Kingfisher 110 Porcupine Great Stone Plover/ Great Thick Rodents 11 61 111 Black-headed Gull Knee 12 Northern Shoveler 62 Black-bellied Tern 112 Leopard 13 Temminck’s Stint 63 Lesser Pied Kingfisher 113 Sāmbhar 14 Brown-headed Gull 64 Eurasian (White) Spoonbill 114 Common Monkey 15 Eurasian Wigeon 65 Greater White Fronted Goose 115 Eagle 16 Little Egret 66 Pied Avocet 116 King Fisher Brahminy (Ruddy) Rabbit 17 67 117 Shelduck Marsh Sandpiper 18 Purple Swamphen 68 Common Snipe 19 Spot-billed Duck 69 Water Pipit 20 Little Grebe 70 Indian Pond Heron 21 Moorhen 71 Osprey 22 Mallard 72 Purple Heron 23 Sand Lark 73 Grey Wagtail 24 Little ringed plover 74 Tawny Pipit 25 Great Crested Grebe 75 Oriental Darter 26 Greylag Goose 76 Ferruginous Pochard 27 Pallas’s Gull 77 Sarus Crane 28 Crested Lark 78 Pheasant-tailed Jacana 29 White Wagtail 79 White-tailed Lapwing 30 Common Swallow 80 Wood Sandpiper 31 Yellow Wagtail 81 Greater Pied Kingfisher 32 Common Sandpiper 82 Western Reef Egret 33 Common Greenshank 83 Black-necked Grebe 34 Little Tern 84 Indian Shag 35 Kentish Plover 85 Painted Stork 36 River Lapwing 86 Garganey 37 Unidentified Cormorants 87 Spotted Redshank 38 Red-wattled Lapwing 88 Little Stint 39 Grey Heron 89 Rosy Pipit

40 Northern Lapwing 90 Black Bittern 41 Oriental Sky Lark 91 White-necked Stork 42 Cattle Egret 92 Eurasian Thick Knee 43 Slender-billed Gull 93 Western Marsh-Harrier 44 Large (Great) Egret 94 Red-throated Pipit 45 Red-crested Pochard 95 Blyth's Pipit 46 Eurasian Sky lark 96 Magpie 47 Common Redshank 97 Albatross 48 Gull-billed Tern 98 Parrot Large Pied/White Browed 49 99 Wagtail Pigeon 50 Common Shelduck 100 vulture

Glossary of local terms:-

Local term English Equivalent

Abadi Habitation Adna malik Inferior owner Ala malik Superior owner Ala malkiat Superior ownership Asami Tanant Asuj Indian month between 15 t h O c t . t o 15 t h N o v . Bagh Panther Ban sarkar Government Forests Bartan Right of users Bartandar Right-holder Bhatti Furnance Bhutar The domestic cattle turned wild Chal Labour who supervises manufacture of katha Chak Place of land Chak Shamlat Deh A place of Ban Sarkar area surroun ded by DPF & Reserved Forests

Charand Grazing ground

Chokidar A village w a t c h m a n Dhar Ridge

Gaddis A community of migratory gr aziers keeping sheep, goat Ghasni Hay land Godam Grass preserve Gujiar A community of migratory graziers keeping rearing buffaloes Harr India m onth between 15 t h J u n e

to 15 T h J u l y Hath Hand lengyh 45 cm Ex-Jagir Tract of land, f rom which the Govt. revenue was Collected through the Power of the administrator Jagirdar The holder of such assignment Jamabandi Village revenue record Khad A stream perennial or seasonal Khasara A field number given in t he village revenue record Katha Tannin obtained from khair trees Khewatdar Land holder Mai A wooden slab drawn by bullocks & used for the soil pressing The ploughed field Malkana Proprietary right Mauza A unit constituted by a number of tikas for the purpose of revenue Collection Mazdoor Labourer Mohal A revenue estate Mugal Mohammedan administration Nautor Breaking of land for cultivation or habitation for the first Nala A small water channel or a torrent Patrah Leaves of broadleaved trees

Patwar A group of villages forming a patwar circle Patwari A revenue official incharge of a patwar circle Raja A ruler Rakha Watcher Shamlat Village common land

Sowana Large blank in a forest used for g r a z i n g Taluka Revenue circle, a tract of proprietary land Tappa It is synonym of mauza Tika It is synonym of mohal Tirni Grazing dues Trihai One third of area under closure Wajub-ui-arz Record of rigots Zamindar Land owner

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Sr. Symbol Full form No. 1 F D Forest Department 2 WC Working Circle 3 MNREGA Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. 4 JFMC Joint Forest Management Committee 5 SHGs Self Help Groups 6 NPV Net Present Value 7 DPF Demarcated Protected Forest 8 UPF Un demarcated Protected Forest 9 UCF Un Classified Forest 10 RF Reserved Forest 11 Cm Centimeter 12 Dia Dia meter 13 Dbh Diameter at brest height 14 FS Felling series 15 LB Left bank 16 RB Right bank 17 N. Surian Nagrota Surian 18 J. Mukhi Jawala Mukhi 19 D Siba Dada Siba 20 C Fs Community Forests 21 B L Broad leave 22 ACF Assistant Conservator of Forests 23 DFO Divisional Forest Officer 24 MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forests 25 GoI Government of India 26 WL Wild life 27 IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature 28 MSL Mean See level 29 DFID Department for International Development 30 VFDC Village Forest Development Community 31 FMP Forest Management Plan 32 SVY Sanjhi Van Yojna 33 NGO/CBO Non Governmental Organization/Community Based Organization 34 LC Least concern 35 EN Endangered

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS(continue)

Sr. Symbol Full form No. 35 CR Critically Endangered 36 VU Vulnerable 38 NT Near threatened 40 JK Jammu & Kashmir 41 NW North- West

VOLUME-I

PART –I

SUMMARY OF FACTS ON WHICH THE PROPOSALS ARE BASED

CHAPTER - I THE TRACT DEALT WITH

1: NAME AND SITUATION: 1.1 This working plan deals with the forests of the territorial jurisdiction of Dehra Forest Division. Dehra Forest Division was notified in the year 1984 vide Govt. notification. Prior to its constitution, the forests of this division were being dealt with two Forests Divisions. The forests of right bank of the river Beas were with Dharamsala Forest Division and were being dealt under M.P. Singh’s working plan, where as forests on the left bank of the river Bias were with Una Forest Division and were being dealt under Baldev Singh’s Plan. 1.2 Dehra Division includes the area of Dehra Sub Division (Civil) and part of Jawali Sub-division (Civil) and falls in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Further for the territorial control it falls under jurisdiction of Hamirpur forest circle. Dehra Forest Division is situated between longitude 75 o 45’ E to 76 o 52’ 30” E latitude 31O 43’N to 32 o 30’N. In the north of this Division lies Dharamshala Division and part of Nurpur Division, In the East it is surrounded by Palampur Forest Division. Hamirpur Forest Division lies to its south where as Una Forest Division & a part of Nurpur Forest Division make the western boundary of this division.

The geographical area of this division is 1200 Km 2 (appox.) and the net forest area is 300 km 2 which is 25% of total geographic area. The headquarters of Dehra Forest Division is at Dehra.

1.2: CONFIGURATION OF THE GROUND: 1.2.1 The altitude of the tract varies from 340 meter to 950 meters above mean sea level, the lowest point being at Sansarpur in Dadasiba Range and the highest point situated near Habrol in Jawalamukhi Range of this division. The configuration varies from steep slopes to gentle hill slopes with network of small rivers and big river like Beas which meet the water requirement of the area for irrigation at least for the major part of the year. Small rivers usually remain dry except rainy season which is July and August months and cause lot of soil erosion problem.

1.3: GEOLOGICAL ROCK AND SOIL: 1.3.1 The various geological formations encountered in the Dehra Forest Division are described below

1.3.2 UPPER SHIVALIKS The rocks of the Shivalik system occupy a thick belt and are seen around Dehra Gopipur and Jawalamukhi areas and run in a NW direction of Dadasiba. These formations occupy the major portion of the division and are composed of grey soft friable, coarse grained sand stone with bands of greyish green and purple clay. These are inter-bedded with boulder beds. Boulders are poorly cemented and quartzitic in nature.

1.3.3 PINJOR BOULDERS BED These in admixture with conglomerates are met between Aloh in SE and Sansarpur in the SW and also up to Baldoa and Amblela areas at the Northern limit of the Division. The composition of these boulders is loose sand and prone to weathering.

1.3.4 GEOLOGY OF DEHRA: The Geological survey of India, Chandigarh has supplied the information and the same is depicted below:

Dehra Gopipur is a tehsil in Kangra district and it is bounded by longitude 75 o 45’ E to 76 o 52’ 30” E latitude 31 O 43’N to 32 o 30’N . The various rock types exposed in Dehra tehsil belong to lower middle and upper Shivalik of middle Miocene to Pliocene ages and alluvium of quaternary age. The

lower Shivalik consists of red and purple sand stone and shale; Middle Shivalik of grey sand stone and orange colour clay, whereas upper Shivalik is made of soft sand stone with Arkose brownish clay, purely sorted and cross bedded conglomerate and boulder bed. The major structure in the area is the Dehra Gopipur auto-cline. Taxonomic unit of soil are typic udorthenth and dystric eutrochrepts. Typical underneath soil, medium deep well dystric thermic coarse loamy soil and gentle slope with moderate erosion, whereas dystric eutrochrapts soil is medium deep well drained, fine to medium loamy soil with loamy surface and moderate erosion.

1.4: SOIL AND FOREST DISTRIBUTION: The Shivalik system of rocks yields soil of sandy to loamy structure and supports low quality chil and scrub forests. These soils are generally dry and deficient in organic matter. Development of soil profiles over most of the tract is not clearly discernible. The North West slopes have clays which alternate with sandstones. Alluvial deposits along streams have deep fertile sandy loam to clayey loam soils where pioneer species like Khair, Dalbergia and Salmalia flourish.

1.5: CLIMATE: Since this Division lies between longitude 75 o 45’ E to 76 o 52’ 30” E latitude 31 O 43’N to 32 o 30’N, its climate is subtropical type. The seasons are well defined. Mid of Feb. to March end and Oct- Nov. are pleasant. May to mid June is very hot and mid June to mid September the area experiences heavy rain. Summer season is usually full of sand dust laden winds. The entire belt is almost rain fed. Summers are usually dry and area experiences acute shortage of water. Table 1: (Rain data in mm month) Dehra Gopipur

Year Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 1984 14.50 112.60 17.00 ------332.20 322.90 145.90 ------25.50 970.60 85 54.50 4.20 5.40 16.20 4.00 102.20 482.10 438.30 192.10 103.30 ------74.00 1476.30 86 Nil 96.00 52.70 25.00 63.90 95.20 415.50 465.60 14.20 59.00 68.20 43.80 1399.10 87 90.00 59.20 31.00 39.90 212.60 79.70 241.70 236.70 99.00 71.40 ------6.20 1167.40 88 27.60 76.00 103.60 3.60 28.00 69.50 589.40 359.30 558.20 ------1.20 77.30 1893.70 89 99.20 29.00 61.40 11.60 22.40 60.20 384.90 272.50 46.60 ------49.20 70.80 1107.80 90 8.20 96.20 119.90 16.20 37.40 57.50 308.40 424.80 396.60 4.20 ------131.30 1600.70 91 ---- 70.20 52.00 53.80 20.00 36.30 166.30 485.10 178.80 8.00 ------89.90 1160.40 92 115.40 78.30 47.30 3.50 30.90 61.00 397.50 900.80 37.60 ----- 14.40 1.50 1688.20 93 66.90 3.70 60.00 3.00 14.10 115.00 648.30 141.80 130.60 ----- 3.50 ------1186.90 1365.11 94 62.10 74.30 5.10 64.90 33.30 163.00 629.40 765.70 55.70 5.40 ------40.40 1899.30 95 44.50 116.50 44.20 24.10 ------26.00 440.30 465.50 5.20 ----- 5.00 2 1173.30 96 52.00 89.20 58 7.00 31.00 229.70 288.50 410.30 97.00 39.50 ------1.40 1303.60 97 68.50 55.30 49.80 85.90 39.20 135.40 573.90 571.50 165.20 16.70 87.50 81.50 1930.40 98 10.40 184.70 180.20 77.00 13.00 110.10 246.10 328.90 157.90 78.50 0.70 ------1387.50 99 63.40 11.90 7.60 ------119.80 86.70 544.70 515.20 99.90 1.40 9.20 0.20 1460.00 2000 109.00 105.00 51.10 11.00 93.90 169.10 588.00 99.50 149.00 ------16.50 1392.10 2001 8.20 6.40 39.10 ------2002 21.00 10.60 29.60 16.60 6.60 81.00 154.00 437.00 126.40 13.00 0 1.20 897.00 2003 32.20 124.20 81.00 7.20 9.00 75.60 235.50 532.70 243.50 0 3.00 9.60 1353.50

2004 77.20 13.90 0 16.70 36.60 95.50 233.00 122.00 109.90 94.20 5.20 15.80 820.00 2005 46.40 115.20 70.60 8.40 1.00 12.20 338.80 168.60 75.40 0 0 0 836.60 2006 22.00 71.80 63.60 2.00 33.60 164.00 577.80 376.00 141.00 42.20 7.30 23.20 1524.50 2007 0 70.20 179.80 38.80 35.40 146.30 337.90 355.80 133.20 1.50 0.20 23.10 1322.20 2008 40.30 23.20 0 19.00 19.20 579.30 460.10 488.35 85.55 37.40 0 1.20 1753.60 2009 36.60 38.70 16.30 69.20 23.80 38.60 405.10 232.10 111.30 0 49.80 0 1021.50 2010 11.80 32.30 9.00 0.40 37.30 86.10 296.70 250.00 160.30 55.20 4.00 49.00 992.10

Table 2 : Some rainfall data, decadal averages in mm , since 1891-92 is available for Dharamsala, Kangra and Dehra stations and is reproduced below: (from MP Singh’s WP):

Years Dharamsala Kangra Dehra Gopipur 1891 -92 to 1918 -19 3020.82 2022.09 1425.19 1919 -20 to 1929 -30 2932.93 1917.95 1263.14 1930 -31 to 1950 -51 3417.06 2019.04 1300.60 1951 -52 to 1955 -56 NA NA NA 1956 -57 to 1966 -67 3323.30 2038.10 1230.00 1966 -67 to 1980 -81 3385.53 1944.16 1522.02 1984 to 1993 1365.11 1994 to 2003 2004 to 2011

Table 3: TEMPERATURE Year January February March April Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min 1995 21.5 6 24 7 32 8 36 13.5 1996 23 6.5 24.5 9 31 12 38 15 1997 21.5 6 34 6 30 11.5 37.5 13 1998 21 6 23.5 8 27 11 27.5 14 1999 21.5 6.5 24 7 34 10 42 16.5 2000 22.5 5 25 6.5 33 9 40 15.5 2001 25 3.5 27.5 5.5 32 9 38.5 14 2002 22.5 5.5 28 5.5 33 9 39 16 2003 22.5 3.5 25 7.5 31 6.5 40 15.5 2004 23.5 6 29.5 6 35.5 12 41 17.5 2005 21.5 5 24.5 6 30 11 38 14 2006 25 4.5 30.5 8.5 31 10 42.5 13

Year May June July August Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min 1995 42.5 20.5 45.5 18.5 39.5 22 34.5 22 1996 41.5 16 42.5 20 35.5 21 37 21.5 1997 40.5 16.5 40 18 40 21 35.5 20 1998 44 18 43 19 37 22.5 35 22.5 1999 43 18 40 21.5 37.5 21 35.5 21 2000 41.5 19 40 17.5 37 18 35.5 21 2001 34.5 20 41.5 20 35 21 35.5 21 2002 44 19.5 44 21 40 21 35 21 2003 41 16 44.5 20.5 36.5 20 35 18 2004 46 15 43.5 19 39 22 35 18.5 2005 42 18 46..5 20 37.5 36.9 22.5 2006 43.5 18 43 20 37.5 21.5 37 21.5

Year September October November December Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min

1995 35 19 34.5 17 30 11 24 8 1996 35.5 20 32.5 17 30 11 24 6.5 1997 34.1 19 31 15 27 11 27 11 1998 34.5 19.5 35.2 17 27.5 11 26.5 7 1999 34.5 21 33 16 32 10 25 6.5 2000 35 19.5 33.5 18 28 10 25.5 7.5 2001 35 19 34 18 2002 33.5 19 33.5 14 28.5 11 24.5 7 2003 34.5 19.5 30 17 28 9.5 25 6.5 2004 37 21.5 35.5 15 27.5 14 25 8 2005 36 21 33.5 16.5 28.5 11 23.5 5 2006 34.5 21 34 15.5 28.5 8 24 4.5

1.6: WATER SUPPLY: 1.6.1: Water supply for drinking purposes is generally met from the various perennial streams /khads like Chanaur Khad, Badhal Khad, Dhaliara Khad, Kaloha Khad etc. throughout the tract. Along motor-able roads near habitations, the IPH department has installed 150 hand pumps to meet the drinking water requirement. In May 2001 a hand pump has been installed at Ranser island in the Pong Lake. IPH has also installed 29 lift water irrigation schemes and 56 gravity water supply schemes for irrigation purposes.

1.6.2: During summer, scarcity of water prevails over the larger part of the area. People have to bring water for drinking purpose from long distances as many wells and natural springs dry up. The situation has considerably improved along road side habitations due to the installation of hand pumps. In case monsoon downpours are delayed, it leads to large-scale mortality in young plantations.

1.7: DISTRIBUTION OF AREA: In the plan under Revision the total area of UPF of Dada Siba Range was taken as 4295.75 Ha; whereas, in this plan the area is 4284.46 Ha. Reasons for difference of 11.29 Ha are discussed below: Difference in total in the plan under revision = 4295.75 – 4292.82 = 2.93 Ha. The area in the following Forests/Compartment of Dada Siba Range UPF in the plan under Revision was wrongly taken/printed which has now been corrected after consulting relevant record and CH files. Name of Forests of Dada Compartment Area as per New Plan Siba Range (In Ha.) UPF-33 Nari C4 50.88 UPF-44 Banuri C1 36.01 -do- C3 45.32 -do- C5 23.00 UPF 7 Gulardhar C4 2.53

The difference in UPFs of Dehra Range is due to inclusion of 57.01 ha of UPF Dhar Shham Forest in this plan which has not been dealt in the earlier plan. Similarly, in the earlier Plan the total area of UFs in Dehra Range was taken as 4324.68 wrongly. It is now 4602.68 Ha in this plan. The reason of variation is wrong printing and totaling. U17D Bahungta (278 Ha) was not counted in the total area has now been taken and area corrected. The forest/ compartment areas which have been corrected in this plan after consulting the relevant records and CH files are:

Name of Forests of Compartment Area as per New Plan (In Dehra Range Ha.) UF -67 Nari C1 26.93 UF -17 Bihan C4 27.49

The area dealt with in this working plan according to legal classification is tabulated range wise as below: ( also see appendix-I)

Table 4: Area Statement (Ha) Range RFs DPFs UPFs UCFs CSFs Road Rail G. Total strips strips DadasibaT 122.23 1825.67 4284.46 273.39 6505.75

Dehra 1110.09 4602.68 2693.99 33.65 79.96 8577.39

J-mukhi 935.11 2488.97 5174.78 728.00 33.25 9360.11 N-Surian 574.97 911.33 229.04 3719.66 127.48 104.16 5666.64 G. Total 2742.40 2737.00 7059.49 13770.51 3549.47 66.90 184.12 30108.89

Table 5: The detail of Seismic information is tabulated below: DATE LATITUDE LONGITUDE DEP MAGNITUDE 26-7-93 32.109 76.314 8.21 3.31 5-12-93 32.25 76.317 12 3.47 21-8-94 32.25 76.317 12 3.67 28-8-94 32.286 76.297 16.52 2.76 23-9-94 32.201 76.193 30.15 3.37 24-9-94 32.25 76.317 12 3.33 24-1-95 32.407 76.181 16.64 3.03 2 4 - 8 - 9 5 3 2. 2 5 76.317 1 2 3 . 5 6 23-10-95 32.044 76.263 12 3.72 15-11-95 32.25 76.317 12 3.48 23-2-96 32.452 76.27 35.61 2.72 15-5-96 32.25 76.317 18.69 2.91 25-5-96 32.497 76.207 17.98 2.27 27-5-96 32.467 76.331 32.93 2.44 5-7-96 32.407 76.317 12 2.60 4-10-96 32.481 76.333 24.38 2.36 13-10-96 32.458 76.216 7.41 2.55 21-10-96 32.418 76.133 12 4.02 30-10-96 32.495 76.209 20.78 3.75 2-11-96 32.25 76.135 11 2.34 4 - 1 1 - 9 6 32.377 76.279 1 2 3 . 7 8 5-11-96 32.4 76.324 12 3.48 5 - 1 1 - 9 6 32.254 76.283 1 2 3 . 8 8 7-11-96 32.432 76.339 12 3.30 1 2 - 1 1 - 9 6 32.044 76.263 1 2 4 . 4 3 15-11-96 32.352 76.254 18.7 4.25 19-11-96 32.28 76.317 12 3.33 17-1-97 32.39 76.338 16 2.94 1 8 - 1 0 - 9 8 32.373 76.185 2 . 3 2 2 . 3 1 27-12-98 32.302 76.21 7.24 2.29

1.8: State of boundaries : 1.8.1 The last WP by Sh MP Singh noted: “The boundaries of Delimited Protected Forests are suitably demarcated with large, numbered pillars of loose stone masonry at salient and re-entrant points and with intermediate pillars of similar construction. The internal boundaries of compartments and sub-compartments have been demarcated with small, loose stone masonry pillars but are rarely found at present . Included cultivation is, however, not so demarcated. All the un-delimited and un-classed forests, excepting where they adjoin private forests, are without boundary pillar .Boundary pillars have gone into disrepair and have not been maintained” .

1.8.2: The boundaries of reserved forest and D.P.F’s have been well marked with boundary pillars. But almost all the BPs are poorly maintained. The year wise expenditure incurred on the boundary pillars is given below: Table 6: Expenditure on BPs

Y ear Expenditure in Rupees 1 9 9 5 - 1 9 9 6 30,200 1 9 9 6 - 1 9 9 7 15,000 1 9 9 7 - 1 9 9 8 22,000 1 9 9 8 - 1 9 9 9 15,800 1 9 9 9 - 2 0 0 0 20,800 2 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 1 20,200 2 0 0 1 - 2 0 0 2 20,400 2 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 3 20,600 2 0 0 3 - 2 0 0 4 40,800 2 0 0 4 - 2 0 0 5 18,300 2 0 0 5 - 2 0 0 6 0 2 0 0 6 - 2 0 0 7 35,000 2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 27,675 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 17,300 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0 21,700

1.8.3: The boundaries of un-demarcated protected forests are not so demarcated. As a result of indeterminate nature boundary of such forests in the past, these are honeycombed with cultivation and consequent chances of encroachments cannot be ruled out. These need proper demarcation.

There are several areas that need to be addressed with reference to BPs here. (1) The forest wise BPs need to be checked for number, whether they exist or not and the state of repair needs to be recorded; (2) The BPs around “chaks” or enclosed cultivations are a priority; (3) Similarly, BPs of RFs and DPFs which are prone to encroachment need to be identified. Thereafter, once we know the fore- mentioned information / data, a year wise plan for proper repair or replacement of the BPs esp. in the vulnerable RFs and DPFs has to be detailed in the WP.

Regular checking of boundaries and the boundary pillars is required to be followed as per the quinquennial programme laid down in this plan under Miscellaneous Regulations Chapter.

1.9: LEGAL POSITION: Land tenures , Land Revenue Settlement , Forest Schemes etc. In order to have a fair idea of the present legal status of the forests, a detailed historical back ground of the various measures taken in Kangra district as a whole is considered appropriate and is therefore discussed as under:

Before commencement of the Mughal Rule, the Raja was the manorial lord of his territory which was a single estate divided into a number of circuits for administration purposes. The circuits were mere groupings of holdings under a Collector of rents. All waste land was the property of the Raja. Every right was to come from the Raja; holding of land was derived from his grant. This system of land tenure continued unchanged under the Mughal and Sikh Rulers till 1846, when the tract ceded to the British. 1.9.1: Barnes land Revenue Settlement (1849—1852): After cession of the territory in 1846, a summary settlement was carried out by John Lawrence. Regular settlement was conducted by Barnes during 1849-52. Barnes converted each circuit, which were collection of hamlets, with patches of cultivation and undefined rights of user in the surrounding wastes, into ‘mauzas’ and demarcated their boundaries. Land holders of each mauza were converted into a Co-proprietary body and Land Revenue was assessed at a lump-sum for the entire mauza, the payment of which was made the joint responsibility of all the land holders of the mauza. In order to balance the responsibility so imposed, these village Co-proprietary communities were conferred with the right to collect and divide amongst themselves certain items of miscellaneous revenue. The most important result from forest point of view was that the ownership of the soil of the forests and the waste was transferred to the village co-proprietary body with certain reservations of the rights of “Gaddi” shepherds and “Gujjar” herdsman; govt. retaining only the ownership of the trees of spontaneous growth (Khudrao darkhtan) or planted by it and the right to collect grazing dues from gaddis. 1.9.2: Ban Muafi and Un-classed Forests (1863): In 1863 the govt. acquired 1030.53 ha of waste land to make it available to tea planters in 10 villages namely Bandla, Kusmal, Bbagotla, Kandi, Lanod, Dewal, Paprola, Bhattu, Jia, Chachiyan of Palampur tehsil by granting to the village Co-proprietary body in each village complete ownership of trees over an equivalent area and by abandoning its right to closure in the first 8 villages but retaining the same in the last 2 villages. Therefore forests/waste lands in which government surrendered all its rights were called “BAN MUAFIS” and were placed under the control of Deputy Commissioner ; the remaining waste where only the right of closure was surrendered retaining ownership of trees were designated as “Un-classed Forests”. Banmuafi forests are not found in Dharamsala and Dehra Forest Divisions. 1.9.3: Lyall’s Reviesd land Revenue Settlement (1865-1869): Sir James Lyall sub divided the mauzas (circuits) into Tikas consisting of one or more hamlets with surrounding waste over which rights were claimed, defined and fixed boundaries of the Tikas (Tikabandi). Thus Tika became the unit of revenue management. This was the most important feature of Lyall’s operations. A large proportion of the waste was included within the tika boundaries (on the basis of mutual agreement) the ownership of which was vested in the Khewatdars of that tika and was recorded as “Shamlat tika”. The waste that could not be so partitioned remained the joint property of the whole mauza and was recorded as “Shamlat Deh ”. Under the latter category fall:

(i) All or almost all the larger blocks of waste which were generally formed into separate tika known as “Chakban” followed by the name of mauza (Chakbans are tikas containing nothing but none or very little else than forest, and are the property of the whole mauza) and:

(ii) Certain small blocks of especially valuable forests which are shown in the maps of the tika in which they fall. The proprietary right in Shamlat Deh is in proportion to the revenue paid by each tika whereas in Shamlat tika it as a rule is proportional to the revenue paid by each Khewatdar. However, there is an intermediate case, though not quite common, where the waste is the joint property of a few and not of all the tikas of the mauza. Lyall made certain proposals for forest conservancies which were never sanctioned, and thus apart from an ambiguous definition of the lands Under Govt. forests and the conservancy clauses of the administrative papers his settlement had little effect upon the forests. 1.9.4: Scheme of Roe and Duff (1872-1875): Reserved and Un-classed Forests: On representation made by the Conservator of Forests in 1869, the Govt. appointed Roe (Settlement Officer) along with Duff (Dy. Conservator of Forests) for demarcating absolute Govt. forest areas. The principle to be followed was to acquire absolute proprietary rights in selected areas in exchange for a modification of its rights in the remaining wastes. The scheme resulted in the acquisition of complete rights over 3430.52 ha (8477 acres) in 21 villages of Nurpur tehsil, 3095 ha (7648 acres) in 29 villages of Dehra tehsil by way of granting special money and land concessions, by abandoning the right of closure in the remaining waste and by conferring on the village communities some special rights in such wastes. The land so acquired was notified as Reserved Forests vide Notification No.111-F and 11’-F dated 6th March, 1879 and the remaining wastes where the right of closure was abandoned were designated as Un-classed Forests. Rules for preservation, protection etc of trees in Un-classed Forests were later on notified vide notification No. 61 dated 26th Jan, 1897; subsequently amended vide No. 994 dated 11th Jan, 1919. Fortunately further negotiations on these lines failed, the hazards of demarcation on these principles realized and further demarcation on these lines was dropped. Considering the special money and land concessions and the abrogation of the important right of closure, the result of the measures described above can only be termed as disastrous to the forest conservancy.

1.9.5: Anderson’s Forest Settlement (1883-1897):

The regular forest settlement was carried out by Anderson in Kangra proper from 1883 to 1897 which was sanctioned in 1897. The principles on which the demarcation was carried out (para 5 of his report), are as under:

(i) No change was to be made in the forest management of the forest land either inside or outside the demarcation.

(ii) Forest land which should be permanently maintained as such was to be separated by demarcation from forest land in which clearance for cultivation might at sometime be permitted.

(iii) There were to be no give and take negotiations with the Zamiadars nor was the demarcation to proceed with the idea that the forests excluded from it would be made over to the Zamindars and released from all control.

Anderson did not deal with the Reserved and the Un-classed Forests. The remaining forests were declared protected and in these he demarcated a large number of more important areas, including the majority of old Trihais (closed in 1860) which were termed as Demarcated Protected Forests,

while the areas outside his demarcation, came to be known as Un-demarcated Protected Forests. The Result of Anderson’s Settlement may be summarized as below:

(i) The formation of 138 blocks causing 54802 ha of Demarcated Protected Forests which are to be maintained permanently as forests (Notification No. 57 dated 26th January, 1897) amended by Notification No. 991 dated 11th January, 1919).

(ii) Formation of Un-demarcated Protected Forests by application of Chapter IV of I.F.A. (Notification No. 58 dated. 26th January 1897 amended by Notification No. 992 dated 11th January, 191.9) to all forests and waste land in which the trees had been declared in Revenue Settlement record to belong the Govt. except:

(a) The Demarcated Protected Forests,

(b) The Reserved and Un-classed Forests,

(c) Areas in which Deputy Commissioner may from time to time sanction appropriation of land for cultivation or for any other purpose.

(d) Forest and waste land included in the Jagirs of Rajas of Guler and Dadasiba, Dehra tehsil.

(iii) The declaration in Notification No. 59 dated 26th January, 1897 (amended vide notification No. 993 dated 11th January, 1919) of 62 species of trees to be reserved under section 30 (a) of I.F.A. in the Protected Forests.

Table 7: These 62 species are :

S.No. Local Name Botanical Name 1 Chil , Chir Pinus roxburghii 2 Harar Terminalia chebula 3 Dhao or Chat Anogeissus latifolia 4 Kakoran Pistacia integerrima 5 Box Wood Buxus sempervirens 6 Walnut Juglans regia 7 Chest nut Aesculus indica 8 Elm Ulmus wallichiana 9 Khair Acacia catechu 10 Tali or Shisham Dalbergia sissoo 11 Oak Quereus spp. 12 Kiu Diospyros tomentosa 13 Tun Cedrela toona 14 Sal Shorea robusta 15 Bamboo Bambuse Spp 16 Kalam Stemphegyne parvifolia 17 Kandu Diospyros cordifolia 18 Rajain Holoptelia integrifolia 19 Bahera Terminalia belerica 20 Mahwa Bassia latifolia 21 Keor Holarrhona antidysenterica 22 Barna Crataeva religiosa

23 Sanan Ougenia dalbergiodes 24 Kamal Mallotus phillipinesis 25 Sarin Albizzia lebbek 26 Jaman Syzygium cuminii 27 Simal Bombax malabaricum 28 Bil Aegle marmelos 29 Kembal Odina wodier 30 Kilawa Wrightia tomentosa 31 Arjan Terminalia arjuna 32 Ber Zizyphus jujuba 33 Asan Tenminalia tomentosa 34 Amla Emblica officinalis 35 Lasora Cordia myxa 36 Patajan Putranjiva roburghii 37 Dhaman Grewia oppositifolia 38 Pariara Erythrina suberosa 39 Ohi Albizzip stipulata 40 Phula Acacia modesta 41 Kikar Acacia Arabica 42 kao Olea cuspidata 43 Karmaru Albizzia odoratissima 44 Kathaman Syzygium jambolana,var. caryophillifolia 45 Kachnar Bauhinia variegate 45 Maple Acer spp 47 Spruce Picea smythiana 48 Silver fir Abies pindrow 49 Mulberry Morus spp 50 Rhododendron Rhododendron spp 51 Khirk Celtis australis 52 Duri Cedrela serrata 53 Jamun Prunus cerasides 54 Haleo Cornus macrophylla 55 Gui Viburnum nervosum 56 Bado Salix spp 57 Puna Ehretia laevis 58 Badrin Wikstroemia canescence 59 Burj Betula spp 60 Kurumb Machilus spp 61 Doden Sapindus detergens 62 Deodar Cedrus libani var. deodara

(iv) Compilation of a detailed forest record of rights and notification of rules for the exercise and regulation of these rights.

(v) Notification of rules applicable to the Un-classed Forests under section 76 of I.F.A. 1927 (Notification No. 61 dated 26th January, 1897 amended by No. 994 dated 11th January, 1919).

1.9.6: Gibson’s Forest Settlement for Chhota and Bara Bhanghal (Kothi Kohar and Sawar) (1901- 1903): As these areas are in Palampur Forest Division, hence not being discussed here:

1.9.7: Middletion’s Revised Land Revenue Settlement (1913- 1919):

The identification and record of the areas on which the trees were the property the state was the most important forest matter dealt with in the course of this settlement. In spite of attention to details which characterized the earlier land revenue settlements, the records were not quite clear as to the field numbers on which the trees belonged to the Govt. Anderson’s Forest Settlement, though resulted in a clear record of rights in the Demarcated Protected Forests, did not remove the difficulty of ascertaining the areas outside the demarcation in which the trees were the property of the Govt. This verification was carried out by Middleton with the assistance of Mitchell who prepared tree files by tracing each field number of Lyall’s record and declaring the proprietary rights of Govt. or otherwise in terms of new field numbers. In doing so the title of the Govt. to trees in small scattered areas not exceeding 4 acres (4 acre-rules) was generally abandoned. The Government forests (Ban Sarkar) areas were thus, clearly defined and the matters were brought on a far more satisfactory footing than ever before and one of the main difficulties of Revenue and Forest administration was removed.

In the body of the “record-of-rights”, wherever a field number in which the Govt. owns the trees occur a note to that effect in the remarks column, at the end of the record forming part of the “ZAMABANDI.” In addition a forest register for each tehsil showing the field numbers and the area of each tehsil showing the field numbers and the area of each class of forest in every tika was drawn up.

1.9.8: Mitchell and Walter’s Rotational Closure Scheme (1919):

The forests included in the earlier demarcations and closed to grazing continued to improve but those outside the demarcation deteriorated steadily and were in the danger of extinction. Realizing the true state of affairs, the Govt. in order to save the forests from irretrievable damage issued orders in 1913 for the preparation of a scheme of rotational closure of forests. The I.G.F. who toured Kangra district in 1915, also suggested to the Govt. that the whole area which was proposed ever to be closed under I.F.A. should be delimited by a special revenue officer along with a Forest Officer. Accordingly Mitchell and Walters were deputed for the purpose and their operations resulted in a scheme known as Mitchell and Walters Rotational Closure Scheme. A question may be raised as to why a fresh Delimitation of areas to be subjected to Rotational Closure was felt necessary when already there existed a good number of Demarcated Protected Forests? It was not possible to consider the then existing Demarcated Forests as the basis for the new system of “Closure Series” on account of the following 3 main reasons :

(i) The Govt’s right of closure extended equally to both the Demarcated and un-demarcated Protected Forests and contiguous with the Demarcated Forests there were pieces o Un- demarcated Forests where there was little objection as to their closure like that of Demarcated Forests.

(ii) The Demarcated Forests in many cases were large, and included wastes taken from many tikas and often more than one mauza. The tikabandi of the waste was carried out on the basis of the grazing ground mainly used by each concerned tika; and though it was rare to find a case in which a tika grazed exclusively on its own waste and had no mutual arrangement with its neighbours, still it is obvious that under conditions which render a tikabandi possible, the closure series could not be very much larger than the waste of each tika.

(iii) The Demarcated Forests included a considerable extent at the forests which could not be closed without great hardship to the right holders. The best instance is that of the large “chakbans” which are tikas containing nothing but or very little else than forest and are the property of the

whole mauza and not merely of the khewatdars of the nearest cultivated lands. Obviously there were tracts which conformed to the principles of demarcation in Anderson’s Settlement and they were, as a rule accepted as Demarcated Protected Forests as they stood. But when the boundaries had been fixed at Lyall’s Settlement in majority of cases, the tikas bordering chakbans were given no waste at all, so that their cattle entered direct from the houses into the Demarcated Forests which contained all the paths from one part of the grazing ground to another and all the watering places.

In view of the above, the closure series had to be created without reference to old demarcation.

Some Un-demarcated Forests had to be included and some Demarcated Forests had to be excluded from the new delimitation. Thus for the selection of areas to be subjected to the scheme of Rotational Closure an amalgamation of the Demarcated and Un-demarcated Forests took place. The areas so delimited which may be composed entirely of Demarcated Protected Forests or entirely of un-demarcated Protected Forests or of both, were termed as Delimited Protected Forests.

There exists some misunderstanding as to the term Delimitation or Delimited Forests. The term delimitation was used only to avoid any confusion with the previous demarcation. The later connotes a legal difference between the two classes of forests (Demarcated and Un-demarcated) while the former is merely an executive act having no legal significance whatever. The Delimited Protected Forests remained under the charge of Forest Department while some legally Demarcated Forests excluded from the delimitation, were transferred to the control of the Deputy Commissioner along with the other remaining forests.

For the forests situated to the left bank of river Beas, In 1927-28 a rotational closure scheme was framed by Aggarwal and Kundan Singh on the lines of the one for rest of the forests of Kangra Distt. by M/S Walter and Mitchell in the year 1921. The Punjab Govt. in their letter No. 28863 Fts approved this on 13 th October,1930. However, this scheme covered only the demarcated protected forests as in the rest of Kangra District. The scheme recommended closures as under:

Triennial Closure Series1/4 th area of each forest in this series is kept closed for 30 years starting from 1931-32. Chil forests were allotted to this series. Decennial Closure Series1/4 th area of each forest in this series is kept closed for a period of 10 years starting from 1931-32. In addition, it was decided by the Govt. that:

In case of small demarcated trihais of less than 10.12ha. (25acres) extent, the working plan would not provide for rotational closure but such trihais would remain wholly closed as in past. Closure in scrub working circle would be for 10 years subject to the reconsideration on the expiry of that period. Bamboo areas would be closed for 3 months only and in areas actually stocked with bamboos after gregarious flowering for a period not exceeding 10 years. The scheme was prepared in a manner so as not to cause the villagers any great inconvenience while assuring the conservancy of forests. The areas specified in the closure scheme can be closed for management purposes without any reference to the right holders.

1.9.9: Summary of the Results of the Settlement and Schemes (1849 – 1919): The net result of various measures discussed above was to create the following categories of forests: (i) Ban Maufis : which are the absolute properties of the Village Co-proprietary body. No such forests are found in the tract dealt with i.e. present Dehra FD. (ii) Reserved Forests : which are the absolute properties of the Govt. practically free from rights of user, except those admitted; (iii) Un-Classed Forests : where trees belonged to the Govt. but no closure could be enforced without the consent of the people. (iv) Demarcated Protected Forests : (Jungal Mehdooda), where appropriation of land cannot be granted. (v ) Un-demarcated Protected Forests : (Jungal Gair Mehdooda), where breaking up of land could be permitted by the Deputy Commissioner. (vi) Delimited Protected Forests : (Jungal Mehfuza), which were subjected to the scheme of Rotational Closure and are to be permanently maintained as forests. 1.10: The CO-OPERATIVE FOREST SOCIETIES : The condition of the Delimited Protected Forests, being under proper management by the Forest Department improved and was quite satisfactory, but the Un-classed and Un-delimited Protected Forests suffered badly. Indiscriminate felling, lopping, grazing, browsing etc. resulted in serious loss of soil cover leading to accelerated soil erosion especially in foot hills. In order to arrest further deterioration of these forests the Govt. in 1938 decided to associate the villagers in the Forest Management by entrusting to them the Management of Govt. Forests within each village estate generally a mauza, provided they agreed to manage the remaining unmanaged forests also under regular working plans through the agency of Forest Co-operative Societies.

The scheme of the Forest Cooperative Societies was sanctioned by the Govt. vide their letter No. 568-Ft dated 27th February, l940 wherein the detailed administrative aspects of this new institution were outlined. The detailed organizational set up, the byelaws etc. are given in Vol-II (Appendix VII) of Rawal Plan for Cooperative Forest Societies (1968-69 to 1982-83) and may be referred. The scheme was initially sanctioned for a period of 5 years and the first C.F.S. was registered during 11/1941. The scheme was reviewed and extended from time to time till 31st March, 1974. Since then efforts have been made off and on to revive the KFCSs and various meetings and consultations within the Forest Department and the Govt. have been held. According to figures available, there are no Co-operative Forest Societies in Dada Siba Range. Dehra Range has the largest forest area under CFS at 2693.99 ha. (2717.05 ha in the previous WP); followed by Jawalamukhi Range with 728.00 ha under CFS and then Nagrota Surian Range with 127.48 ha under CFSs. The total area in Dehra FD under CFS thus works out to 3549.47 ha.

Table 8: Active JFMCs in Dehra: Division Range Area Ha Name of CFS Status of CFS Dehra Jawakmukhi 728.00 24 Gummer Active 25 Muhal Active Dehra 2693.99 26 Sanot Active 27 Dehra Active 28 Bari Active 29 Paisa Active 30 Tatahan Khurd Active 31 Tripal Active N-Surian 127.48 32 Haripur Active

1.10.1: NOTE ON ABOLITION OF PAYMENT OF HAQ-CHUHARAM : Para 61 of Forest Settlement Report of Kangra, written by Anderson, the Village Community (Khewatdars) and servants (Rakha, Patwari and Lambardar) had got the provision of payment of one-fourth share of the gross income from the sale of trees as voluntary grant to be divided among them. This was not a malikana, paid in recognition of their property in the soil, but was a voluntary grant made to secure their interest and co-operation in Forest Conservancy.

This Haq-Chuharam system existed in five Forest Divisions of the Himachal Pradesh i.e. Dharamshala, Dehra, Palampur, Nurpur and Hamirpur falling under the jurisdiction of Kangra and Hamirpur Districts. The share of Patwari was scrapped in 1948, when the post of Patwari was declared as a Government job.

1.11: THE HIMACHAL PRADESH COMMON LANDS (VESTING AND UTILIZATION) ACT, 1974: With the enactment of the H.P. Village Common Lands (Vesting and Utilization) Act, 1974 the ownership of soil which was earlier with the village proprietors has vested in the Govt. As a result of this, the Ban muafi Forests of (Palampur Forest Division) which were the property of villagers have now become a Govt. property. Similarly, the soil of Un-classed and Protected Forests which belonged to the people (Govt. having proprietary rights over trees of spontaneous growth or planted by it) has also vested in the govt. Thus these forests have also become absolute property of the Govt. subject to the exercise of the rights of users.

1.12: THE FOREST CONSERVATION ACT, 1980 : With the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, no forest land can now be diverted for any non-forestry purpose without the permission of Central Govt. As a consequence, power of Deputy Commissioner allowing breaking up of land for cultivation in Un-classed and Un- demarcated Protected Forests has been completely abrogated. Thus the distinction amongst the Demarcated protected, Un-demarcated Protected and the Un-classed Forests as far as breaking up of land for cultivation is concerned, has disappeared.

1.13: Legal Position : 1.13.1: In order to have a fair idea of the present legal status of the forests, detailed historical back ground of the various measures taken in Kangra District as a whole is considered appropriate and is therefore discussed as under:

1.13.2: Rights and Concessions: 13.3: Protected Forests: The rights in demarcated protected forests have been clearly recorded in Anderson’s detailed Tika- wise record of rights. Breaking up of land is prohibited. Deputy Commissioner could earlier permit the breaking up of land for cultivation. However, this power of the DC has been curtailed under the provisions of FCA, 1980.

In the delimited protected forest, a summary inquiry into special rights such as right to way, right to water, likely to be interfered by new delimitation was made by Mitchell and Walters for each forest and the results are recorded in the forest journals. No detailed record like the one prepared by Anderson for the demarcated protected forests was attempted. As for the forests formed partly or wholly of the undemarcated protected forests are concerned, Anderson’s record of rights has been largely altered and has therefore gone redundant.

1.13.3: Un-classed Forests : Rights in un-classed forests are almost similar to those in the un-demarcated protected forests. No separate record of rights exists for these forests. The state retains the right of management but no closure can be effected without the consent of people. There is no prohibition on grazing in these forests. Earlier there was no statutory provision against breaking up of land for cultivation so long no damage was caused to the forest growth. However, as mentioned above, the provisions of FCA, 1980 have now prohibited clearing of land for cultivation in the un-classed forests.Notification of unclassed is at appendix XVII, XI(a) and XXII of VOL.II

All the rights of users (except those of Gaddis and Gujjars) are appended to cultivated land assessed to land revenue are acquired or alienated with such land and are exercised only for the bona fide agricultural and domestic requirements. These are further subject to the condition that the right holders shall be responsible for the pay of the Rakhas and that the rights will not be exercised to such an extent that may endanger the very existence of the forest. The Govt. retains the power to curtail or suspend these rights for sufficient and good reason.

The exercise of rights is regulated by the rules framed under section 32 of I.F.A. vide notification no. 416 dated 14th August, 1897, amended by no. 55 dated 6th January, 1919 for Kangra.

1.13.4: Rights in Reserved forests: Right of way and drinking water for the cattle during the hot weather are common in many of the reserve forests. Right of grazing by Gaddies is well recorded in the settlement applicable in this division also see appendix X of vol. II

1.13.5: Rights in Protected Forests : These have been well recorded in forest settlement for DadaSiba Jagir forests where in breaking of land is prohibited. The grazing rights have undergone a change due to framing of rotational closure scheme by Aggarwal and Kundan Singh as explained in the fore going paras. Rights of collection of fuel wood, tree distribution for building purposes and burning of the dead for funeral, marriages and other agriculture implements have been well defined in the settlement report applicable for the tract also see appendix XI.

1.13.6: RIGHTS IN UN-CLASSED FORESTS : The rights in un-classed forests are identical with those of un-demarcated protected forests. Therefore the enactment of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 there was no prohibition for appropriation of land, which cannot be now done with the coming in force of the Act. The rules for preservation, reproduction and disposal of 62 trees reserved vide notification No. 61 dated 26th January, 1897 and No. 994 dated 11th January, 1919 as given in appendix of Vol. II, apply to these forests also see appendix XI(a).

All rights of users except those of gaddis are appended to the cultivated land assessed to land revenue; are acquired and alienated with such land; and are exercised only for bona fide agricultural and domestic requirements. All rights are granted subject to the condition that the right holders shall be responsible for the pay of Rakhas and subject to the limitation that right will not be exercised to an extent which will endanger the existence of the forests. Government retains the power to limit or suspend rights for sufficient reasons to believe.

1.14: Summary of Principal Rights : The principal rights recognized by the Forest settlement are breaking up of land for cultivation, timber for building purposes, wood for burning of the dead, funeral rites and for marriage ceremonies, wood for agricultural implements, grazing, grass cutting, lopping, collection of medicinal herbs, flowers and fruits etc.

The sale proceeds of grass from the area closed by the Govt. and fruits of trees belong to the village proprietors. The Govt. is entitled to protect, improve and reproduce the forest growth and to sell trees to the traders and non-right holder only after meeting the requirement of the right holders in full.

1.14.1: T.D. RIGHTS IN DEHRA DIVISION : As per provision of Anderson`s Forest settlement for Kangra District the definition of right-holder is given under clause 26.27 and 28 which reads as under:

Clause 26 : “The first class of right-holders is the proprietary body of the villages and tikas in whose name the common waste is recorded in proportion to the revenue paid. The proprietors and their agricultural tenants are presumed to have all the rights admitted within the waste of which they are co-shares, whether they exercise the rights or not. For any one to come under this class, he must be the owner of cultivated land assessed to revenue, (b) a share in the common waste must be appended to that land.If he sells his share in the common waste, retaining his cultivated land and paying revenue, the purchaser of the waste is not entitled to the forest rights formerly enjoyed by the seller. He has no rights to trees at zamindari rates, nor lopping of trees, and in short, to any forest produce. Such a purchaser comes under the second class of right-holders, which consists of the owners of waste land (un-classed) who pay no revenue. They have been given the same rights as have been conferred on non-agricultural residents; they may graze their own cattle, cut grass and collect dry fuel and stones. Under this second class come most of the recent settlers in the Kangra Valley, who have acquired waste land and laid out tea gardens”. “The peculiarity of the first two classes of right-holders is that they held the rights not by virtue of their exercising them, but as an incident of their proprietorship in the land”.

Clause 28 : The third class right-holders consist of all-revenue-payers and their tenants who have been accustomed to exercise rights in the demarcated forests. For this class special record has been prepared. The test for entry into this is not propriety over the soil but the continuous exercise of certain customs over the waste included in the forest. Hence it includes not only those who live and have land in the village and tika in which the waste is situated, but also the people of neighboring villages over whose waste they have exercised rights. In closing any part of the demarcated forests the rights of this class must be taken into consideration as provided for”.

Clause 28 : “The fourth class consists of those who have rights in the un-demarcated waste. The test here again is exercise of the rights. No record however, could be prepared and general definition has been given. Rights in the waste have been allowed to all revenue-payers and their tenants who have continuously exercised the rights. Under this class, have been included non- agricultural residents who have been allowed, as an act of grace and on surface, to graze a few cattle, to collect dry wood and cut grass in the un-demarcated waste. The privileges may be exercised only for their own domestic requirements”.

As per clause 19 (1) of appendix III of Kangra Valley Settlement by Anderson no trees for building purposes are admissible at right-holders rate to a person who pay land revenue of less than 8 annas. The relevant clause reads as under.

Clause 19 : “Trees for building purposes, whether of the priced or un-priced kinds, may be cut only with the permission of Forest Officer or of any Forest Official specially authorized by him and for granting trees for these purposes, the Forest Officer will be guided by the following rules viz. One tree will be allowed for each rupee and part of a rupee being 8 annas or more, of revenue paid provided that the number of trees granted does not exceed 25, whatever the revenue paid upto maximum the number of chil should not exceed 10, but in special cases and for cause shown, the Deputy Commissioner may in his discretion grant a larger number of trees”.

1.14.2: PRESENT POSITION : The Govt. have decided through Secretary Forests D.O. letter No. Fts (F) 13-30/85 dated 10-12- 1986 read with letter No. 30-53/72 dated 13-03-1987 that persons who have acquired ownership under Tenancy Act or under the provisions of the Land Reform Act or Govt. scheme of providing land to the landless will enjoy the concession of getting timber for their bonafide domestic use. Vide letter No. 30-53/72-SF-IV dated 16-10-89 the Govt. have also decided to grant trees at right- holders rates to those person also who pay land revenue less than 50 paise (8 annas). Such persons are entitled for one tree only at right-holder rates for the construction of their houses etc. in modification of Anderson`s settlement Report for Kangra. These Govt. orders will apply only in case of persons owning agricultural land. These orders of the Govt. are only applicable in case of acquisition of agricultural land are and not in case of persons who were allotted land for house constructions.

From the above it is clear that presently all persons in Kangra District who own agricultural lands entitled for trees at right-holders rates. However, those who got land for house construction or who are owners of only wasteland (un-classed) are not entitled to it.

T.D. RIGHTS PROVIDED IN THE SETTLEMENT REPORT OF JAGIR FORESTS OF GULER, DADASIBA, NADAUN AND KUTLEHAR OF KANGRA DISTRICT (1915): Vide Notification No. 2829-E, the following rules have been made by the Lieutenant Governor, in the exercise of his powers under Section 31 of the Indian Forest Act, 1878, to regulate the matter with which they deal in respect of the areas constituted protected forests by Notification No. 2839-A, dated 31 st August, 1915, including the demarcated protected forests specified in Notification No. 2939-B dated 31 st August, 1915. They are published under section 77 of the said act.

1. Except where the contrary is stated, these rules apply to the protected forest of both classes. 2. In these rules, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context. “Record of rights” means the record prepared in accordance with section 28 of the Indian Forest Act.

“Bartandar” means a person entitled, by virtue of being the owner of cultivated land or of being the agricultural tenant of such an owner being in possession of special rights, to rights over land or forest produce, which is the property of another. “Khewatdar” means a person entitled to a right over waste or forestland by virtue of his sole or joint property in such land. “Right-holders” includes every person entitled to a right over waste or forestland or forest produce, in whatever capacity and for whatever reasons exercises that right. “Land assessed to revenue” includes land which, though liable to assessment, was not charged with revenue at the internal distribution (bachh) of the last assessment, but has since that assessment been brought under cultivation or closed with the permission of competent authority.

XII-(1) The Raja may give permits to bartandars to cut and lop trees required by them for the following purposes to the extent of their actual requirements (a) For making fences. (b) For fuel for marriage feasts. (c) For fuel for funeral ceremonies, such as mukan, sukha and chawbarak. (d) For making agricultural and domestic implements. (e) For making charcoal for the manufacture and repair of agricultural implements. (f) For the supply of fuel at camping-grounds, but not otherwise for sale or barter. (g) For making machans.

2. Such trees may only be taken after being marked by a Forest Officer, who will select trees that may be cut and lopped under this rule to be marked in suitable numbers and in reasonable convenient localities, but in all cases, crooked, malformed and dry trees and such trees can be removed in thinning must be marked first. When such trees are not suitable or available, other trees may be marked but in every case strict regard must be paid, to the interest of forest growth and regeneration.

3. Chil and bamboo may only be marked and cut or lopped when no other suitable trees are available, and the Raja shall report to the Deputy Commissioner the grant of all permits to cut or lop these trees.

XIV- Trees required for building purpose may not be cut except under the permit of the Raja.

XV-(1) Tree for building purpose will not ordinarily be granted often than once in 5 years to any bartandar, but on special application to the Raja and for special cause shown (e.g. the burning of the applicant’s house) the Raja may grant trees at shorter interval than 5 years to meet the actual requirements of a bartandar. The Raja shall report all such grants to the Deputy Commissioner.

(2) Bartandar shall not be refused trees required for the repair of one building merely because they have received trees within 5 years for the construction or repair of another building.

XVI- Trees given for building purposes must be utilized for the construction or repair of building within the limits of the village where the cultivated land is situated on account of which the trees are given unless the contrary has been specially allowed.

XVII- No tree standing within 10 meters of any public road shall be cut without the permission of the Deputy Commissioner.

XVIII-In case where land revenue has been assessed on the right to timber no permit shall be granted until such revenue has been paid.

XIX- All permits to bartandars to cut and remove trees (including brush wood) shall remain in force only for three months from the date of the permit or of the trees being marked under rule XII whichever is later. If the trees are not removed from the forest within that period, the permit shall lapse, and thereafter the trees shall not be cut or removed unless the permit is renewed by the authority that first granted the trees.

1.14.3: Breaking up of Land for Cultivation : This has been explained in paragraph 10.1 to 10.4 supra.

1.14.4: Timber for Building Purpose : For meeting the bonafide requirement of right holder timber is granted on concessional rate (Zamindari Rate) for the construction or repair of houses, cattle sheds and agricultural implements. Himachal Pradesh Forests (Timber distribution to Right Holders) Rules,2010 are at appendixXIX.

Table 9: Rates are mentioned as below:

SNo Species Rates per tree of all dia. Classes 1 Pinus longifolia of over 0.9m girth 1.00 per tree Dalbergia sissoo (shisham) 1.00 per tree Diospyros tomentosa (kinu) 1.00 per tree 2 Cedrela toona (tun) 4.00 per tree 3 Anogeissus latifolia (chhal) 0.50 per tree Acacia catchu (khair) 0.50 per tree Terminalia chebula (harar) 0.50 per tree 4 Pistacia inteqerrima (kakarsingi) 2.00 per tree 5 Shorea robusta (sal) : ballis 16.50 per hundred P o l l s 5.00 per hundred 6 Bamboos 0.25 per hundred 7 All the remaining 0.25 per tree Reserved species found in This division as listed in ……supra

The grant of trees to right holders at zamindari rate is normally allowed once in five years & one tree is given for each rupee of land revenue paid with a minimum 25 trees of which not more than 10 may be chil. Timber is not to be granted if the right holder has got a suitable house in locality reasonably close to the agriculture holding to which the rights pertain. If the timber is to be used outside the limit of the village in which it is granted double the rates are to be charged. In special & unforeseen circumstances such as fire, flood, earthquake etc. the rules may be relaxed.

Number of trees removed for building purpose by the right holders from 1981-82 to 2000-2001: Table 10: FROM DEMARCATED PROTECTED FORESTS :

Range Species No. of trees granted V IV III IIA IIB IA IB IC TOTAL Dadasiba Pinus roxburgii 2 9 5 1 17=16.03 Dadasiba B . L . 2 4 9 5 2 22=14.038 J’mukhi B.L. 5 9 6 2 1 23=16.670 Chil 3 9 12 6 5 35=57.00 Dadasiba Chil 5 4 3 12=16.81 J’mukhi Chil 3 9 12 6 5 35=57.00 Dadasiba B . L . 5 1 3 2 1 16 4 59=53.796 J ’ mukhi B . L 5 6 3 1 15=8.688 Dehra Chil 2 1 3=2.74 Dehra B.L 5 1 9 5 9 45 17 2 137=112.627

Table 10A: Statement showing the T.D. AND FREE GRANT given to Right Holder from the Year 1996-97 to 2009-2010 from the Left Bank felling series of Chil and other Working Circles.

Left Bank Felling Series 1996 -97 Total W/C F/S PB 10 20 30- 40 50 60+ No. Vol. 20 30 40 50 60 Chil I 1 Chil - - - 12 3 1 16 62.00 3 -do------II 3 -do- - - - 21 5 1 27 46.48 II 4 -do - Shisham - - - 1 - - 1 0.977 II Other B/L - 4 4 5 2 - 15 11.152 III -do- Chil ------do- Shisham ------do- B/L - 3 5 9 4 - 21 18.769 Coppice Chil - - 2 5 - - 7 8.50 Shisham - - 8 21 3 - 32 28.82 B/L - - 7 6 - - 13 10.754 Protection Chil - - - 1 1 - 2 4.04 Shisham - - 1 - - - 1 0.467 B/L - 2 9 1 1 - 13 7.84 Plantation Chil ------Shisham ------B/L - 4 1 - - - 5 1.69 Left Bank Felling Series 1997-98 Chil W.C. I Chil 1 - 3 - 1 - 5 5.9 Shisham ------B.L. - 2 3 5 1 - 11 8.97 II Chil - 2 2 51 1 - 64 89.24 Shisham - - - 2 2 - 4 5.00 B.L. - - 1 3 2 - 6 6.62 III Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. ------Coppice Chil - - 2 1 6 - 9 18.26 Shisham - - 1 8 7 - 16 18.94 B.L. 1 - 9 13 4 1 28 14.51 Protection Chil - - - 9 1 - 10 15.56 Shisham - - 3 2 - - 5 3.353 B.L. - - - 4 1 - 5 5.86 Plantation Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. ------Left Bank Felling Series 1998-99 Chil I Chil - - 10 19 - - 29 33.86 Shisham ------B.L. 1 1 - 3 - - 5 1.86 II Chil - - 9 59 - - 68 90.81 Shisham ------B.L. 3 8 8 - - - 19 23.04 III Chil ------

Shisham ------B.L. ------Coppice Chil 1 - 33 16 - - 50 43.27 Shisham ------B.L. - 64 39 1 - - 115 32.53 Protection Chil - - 7 20 3 - 30 36.41 B.L. 2 42 8 2 - - 54 12.77 Shisham ------Plantation Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. ------Left Bank Felling Series 1999-2000 Chil W.C. I I Chil - - 24 42 1 - 67 78.68 Shisham ------B.L. ------II Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. 2 2 4 5 - - 13 8.26 Others Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. ------II I Chil - - 29 67 8 - 97 117.93 Shisham - - 3 - - - 3 1.40 B.L. ------II Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. 5 5 19 9 - - 38 21.78 III Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. ------Left Bank Felling Series 2000-2001 Chil W.C. I Chil 3 2 - - - - 5 1.87 Shisham ------B.L. ------II Chil 1 - - - - - 1 0.19 Shisham - - - 1 - - 1 0.97 B.L. ------III Chil ------Shisham ------B.L. ------Protection B.L. 2 11 3 - - - 16 3.30 Plantation Chil - - - 1 - - 1 1.44 Shisham 1 1 - - - - 2 0.64 B.L. 1 1 - - - - 2 0.70 Left Bank Felling Series 2001-02 CSWWC - 1 Chil - - - - 1 - 1 2.60 Coppice - - Shisham - - 1 2 1 - 4 2.633 B.L - 1 5 3 - - 9 7.76 Left Bank Felling Series 2002-03 Chil Others - - 27 4 2 0 33 26.49 Shisham - 1 4 1 - - 6 5.898 B.L - - 6 6 - - 12 12.54 Coppice Chil - - 12 4 1 - 17 16.16 Shisham - - 3 - - - 3 1.401 B.L 10 3 16 3 2 - 34 22.59

Protection Chil - - 8 - - - 8 5.99 B.L - 12 3 6 - 1 22 16.41 Left Bank Felling Series 2003-04 Chil Others - - 27 2 - - 29 20.43 Shisham - - - 1 - - 1 0.977 B.L - - 4 2 - - 6 5.48 Coppice Chil - - 17 - - - 17 11.05 Shisham - - 3 3 2 - 8 7.378 B.L 3 9 8 9 2 0 31 25.25 Protection Chil - - 10 - - 1 11 10.04 Shisham - - - 4 3 1 8 10.742 B.L - 38 1 3 - 1 43 13.938 Plantation Shisham - - 1 2 - - 3 4.023 B.L - - - - 2 - 2 5.20 Left Bank Felling Series 2004 -05 Chil Others - - 6 - - - 6 3.90 B.L - 2 - - - - 2 0.38 Coppice Chil - - 3 - - - 3 1.95 Shisham - - - 3 - - 3 2.93 B.L - 4 - 1 - - 5 2.20 Protection Chil - - 6 - - - 6 3.90 B.L - 6 - 2 - - 8 1.14 Left Bank Felling Series 2005-06 Chil Others ------Shisham - - - - 1 - 1 1.523 B.L - - 2 5 - - 7 8.50 CSW 1 Chil - - - - 1 - 1 2.60 Coppice Shisham - - 1 1 - - 2 1.444 B.L - - 1 6 3 1 11 20.63 Protection Shisham - - - 1 1 - 2 2.50 B.L - - 1 1 2 1 5 10.83 Left Bank Felling Series 2005-06 Chil Others - - 42 1 - - 43 28.75 B.L - 2 2 2 4 - 10 14.96 Coppice Chil - - 16 - 1 - 17 13.00 Shisham - - 3 - - - 3 2.932 B.L - 15 - 2 4 - 21 16.13 Protection Chil - - 5 - - - 5 3.25 B.L - 23 5 7 12 - 47 48.90 Left Bank Felling Series 2006-07 ------Left Bank Felling Series 2007-08 ------Left Bank Felling Series 2008 -09 ------Left Bank Felling Series 2009-10 ------

1.14.5: TIMBER AND WOOD FOR BURNING THE DEAD AND MARRIAGE CEREMONY AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS ETC:

For this purpose the trees have been divided into two categories. 1st category comprising of 62 trees reserved vide Notification No. 59 dated 2-6-1867 as amended vide notification No. 993 dated 11-1-1919. In the 2nd category all other trees of the tract dealt with.

The Lamber-dars were authorized in the past to give permits for cutting of 2nd category trees and where the 2nd category trees were not available then cutting of crooked and un-sound stumps of the 1st category of trees with the exception of 19 named trees of 19 species the following species are found in a tract:

Cedrela toona, Acacia arabica, Celtis australis, Olea cuspidata, Dalbergia sissoo, Shorea robusta, Pistacia integerima, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia belerica.

The trees must be marked by a forest official before being cut. However, wood of any species required for burning of the dead, except of 19 named trees may be cut without being first marked provided that the notice is given to the local forest officials within 10 days. In Dadasiba Jagir, Chil and Bamboo can only be marked and cut/lopped with the permission of the Divisional Forest Officer when no other trees are available.

All removal from Dehra Division during the period 2001-2002 to 2009-2010 has been shown at appendix XXX of VOL. II.

Now the practice of the lambardars granting permission has ceased and trees are cut with the prior permission of the Forest Department for the purpose except for burning the dead where the intimation is sent by the villagers after felling.

The following statement shows the number of trees granted for burning of the dead and for marriages (1986 to 2002)

Table 11: Grants for Marriages and Funeral etc :

Ran ge Species V I V I I I I I A I I B I A I B Total V o l m 3 Dadasiba P roxburghii 2 4 3 9 1 1 5 7 8 58.75 N/Surian P roxburghii 5 9 1 4 15.49 256.65 N/Surian B L 5 3 1 6 7 1 6 1 2 4 2 9 8 3 Dadsiba P roxburghii 1 6 2 9 6 3 3 1 6 1 4 5 107.66 Dehra B L 9 2 6 7 9 7 3 4 1 2 8 66.212 J’mukhi Chil 2 5 5 6 2 0 5 2 3 2 1 6 9 8 6 9 5 889.07 Dehra B L 5 1 5 3 4 1 9 7 3 41.875 Dadasiba P roxburghii 1 1 6 9 2 1 1 2 0 9 6 9 9 3 5 8 1 673.76 B L 1 9 6 3 1 3 6 7 6 2 4 3 1 8 204.39 Deh ra P roxburghii 3 3 5 1 1 5 1 9 2 1 5 3 3 8 222.58 181.64 B L 2 5 3 5 1 4 8 7 1 9 2 8 8 1 J’mukhi P roxburghii 2 5 5 6 2 0 5 2 3 2 1 6 9 8 6 9 5 889.01 B L 2 2 4 7 2 8 1 7 6 9 4 4 5 264.33 N/Surian P roxburghii 5 9 5 9 3 3 1 22.59 B L 1 4 2 9 1 3 1 1 6 3 3 7 3 7 4

14.6: Grazing : The right holders may graze any number of animals kept by them for purely domestic and agriculture purposes. The rules regarding the grazing of sheep and Goats are to be followed according to the decision of Financial Commissioner that right holders may graze any such animals as required for their domestic and agricultural (not including pastoral and trade ) purposes, or a number possessed at O’Brien’s assessment of revenue in 1892, which ever may be greater. The restrictions have, however, remained a dead letter on account of the impossibility of satisfactorily differentiating between domestic and industrial, agricultural and pastoral pursuits and of applying O’ Brien’s enumeration figures which do not distinguish between the gaddi nomadic flocks and the local sheep and goats. Non agricultural residents can graze their own domestic cattle free if right-holder do not object. All demarcated protected forests of bamboos of erstwhile Dada-Siba jagir are closed from 15 th Asujie i.e. from 1 st July to 30 September each year.

1.14.6.1: Gaddi grazing : The gaddis who generally belong to Chamba but in some cases have purchased land in Kangra to become entitled to all rights of user, are true shepherds. The rich pastures on the southern slopes of the Dhauladhar provide autumn and summer grazing for four to five months; the flocks resort to recorded ‘runs’ in the low hills, which afford insufficient and very poor grazing. In the rainy season the gaddis take shelter behind the main range by moving to Bara Bhangal, Chamba and Lahaul where very fine grazing is available in the high alpine pastures. The grazing and the movement of the flocks are governed by the following rules: (i) Two classes of gaddis have been recognised and pay at present (since 1967) at rates detailed below:

Grazing Fees:

Class In areas where they graze as land owners Recorded Runs ______(Rs)______(Rs)______a) Residents Goats 12.50 / hundred Goats 40.00 / hundred Sheep 4.60 / hundred Sheep 20.00 / hundred b) Migrants --- -do-

For purposes of enumeration, lambs and kinds born in the spring are counted. Daily stages must be 8 km apart. No halt ordinarily be made for more than one night at any halting place but when delayed by rain or by the necessity of giving salt to the flocks, a halt for two nights is allowed. If these limits are exceeded, a halting fee equal to the full grazing fee is liable but the Deputy Commissioner has discretion in special cases, to reduce it in case of goats to not less than Rs. 4.69 per hundred. He has ruled that the halting fee of Rs. 4.69 per 100 should be charged for halting for more than two days but less than six days unless the halt is for manuring the fields of right holders when no fee is liable; Rs. 6.25 per 100 goats and Rs. 4.69 per hundred sheep, if the stay exclusive of days allowed for manuring exceeds 9 days but does not exceed 15 days. No flocks are permitted to halt at a place for more than 15 days. The period of halting for manuring should not exceed 3 nights at one place and halting fee is liable for excesses even if the halt were for manuring purposes. No halting fee can be charged in tikas where the gaddis own land and are thus ordinary right-holders provided they confine their grazing to the forests in which they have rights as owners of land. Gaddis and Zamindars must make their own arrangements in regard to manuring fields but zamindar may not interfere with gaddis even though they refuse to manure.

1.14.7: Lopping: The rules for lopping have been framed under Notification no. 416 dated 14-8-1897. Right of lopping is subject to Rules. Lopping of the following species has been prohibited: Toona- cedrela, Dalbergia sissoo, Shorea robusta, Acacia nilotica, Olea cuspibata, Pistacia integrrima.

Other species may be lopped for fodder, bedding and manure by the right holders and by Gaddis within their grazing run (For kinds) only provided that no trees less than 50 cm dbh is lopped and branch exceeding finger thickness should not be cut and trees should not be lopped more than half of their height and no cutting instruments are to be used and the twigs have to be broken by hand. In the erstwhile Dadasiba Jagir chil is not to be lopped in any case without the permission of Divisional Forest Officer. However, B.L. trees may be lopped subject to the afore-mentioned conditions. Natural regeneration of Annogiessus species has become a problem. To save this species from extinction, no lopping of this species is allowed till the seeds are shed in the forest.

1.14.8: Zamindari shares : Since 1859 excluding the erstwhile Dadasiba Jagir in the entire tract of the Division, one third of the sale proceed of the timber and one third income from the sheep/goats grazing is divided in the ratio of 25%, 37.50%, 25% amongst village proprietors, Lambardars and Rakhas respectively. The remaining 12.50% was a share of Patwari of the area. This was paid to secure their interest and co-operation in the forest protection.

The share of the proprietor is paid to the Deputy Commissioner as part payment of the land revenue demand. Rakhas used get the share directly from the forest department @ 25% of the sale proceed of timber . However, the payment share is not paid as Malkana in recognition of their property in soil.

1.15: SURVEY AND DEMARCATION : Un-demarcated protected forests as well as un-classed forests need to be protected against encroachment. Also to check the boundary of these forests and to avoid any conflict with the local people it is must that forest land of these forests are well demarcated and boundary pillars erected. The settlement wing of the forest department with the co-operation of the territorial staff of this area can do this work with in a period of two to three years provided minimum requirements to carry out such a task is met with, as follows: Survey & demarcation equipment; Forest survey maps; Stock maps & any other related records pertaining to particular compartment/forests.

There exists some variation between the forest and revenue entries. This problem can also be solved and exact forest area can be assigned once for all in case proper survey and demarcation of these forests is done as per the forest/compartment programme laid down in the appendix VII (a)Vol. II.

1.16: CONSTITUTION OF D.P.Fs : For proper and scientific management, it is suggested that quite a number of compartments of the forests of the tract dealt with shows the dire necessity for their proper and scientific management as new young plantations raised in the past have almost established. The boundaries of these forests be made intact by proper survey and demarcation and boundary pillars erected. Such forests, compartments have been recommended to be constituted as demarcated protected forests, in the concerned compartment history files (also see appendix VIII of Volume-II).

CHAPTER - II FLORA & FAUNA 2 A: THE FOREST FLORA:

2.1: Composition and Condition of the Crop:

The forests of the tract are well scattered on both the banks of river Beas. They can be broadly classified into following groups on the basis of variations which occur due to altitude, edaphic and biotic factors. a. Scrub forests c. Bamboo forests b. Chil forests d. Scrub mixed with chil, sal e. Other Broad Leaved forests

17.1: The forests of this division can be further grouped into various forest types as identified by Champion and Seth in their book titled, "A Revised survey of the Forest Types of India, 1962".

Group 5: Dry Tropical forests: i). 5B/C2 Northern dry mixed deciduous forests ii). 5B/DS1/ Dry deciduous scrub forests. iii). 5B/E9 Dry bamboo.

Group 9: Sub tropical Pine forests: i) 9/Cla Lower or Shivalik chir pine forests. ii) 9/Clb Upper Himalayan chir pine forests.

2.2: Miscellaneous Scrub Forest (Type 5B/C2 & 5/DS1):

These are mainly found between 340 m and 1200 m; that is in the lower areas of the Division, with average annual rainfall from 600 to 900 mm. These forests occur mainly in Nagrota Surian, Jawalamukhi and Dehra ranges. The geological formations are mainly conglomerates. Towards the upper limit where the rocks are generally sandstone, the scrub is replaced by chil.

These forests are composed in varying proportion, mainly of tree/scrubs of Acacia catechu, modesta, Bauhinia veriegata, Albizzia lebbek, Pistacia integerrima, Lannaea coromendelica, Aegle marmelos, Ficus relgiosa, Kydia calycina etc. The undergrowth consists of Carrisa opaca, Dodonaea viscosa, Woodfordia fruticosa, Murraya keonigii, Adhatoda vasica etc. The forests are generally open, degraded and getting eroded due to overgrazing and excessive exercise of various other rights. The productivity of these forests is very low. There are frequent blanks presently carrying no vegetation worth the name. Most species in these forests are of poor utilization and economic value. Regeneration in areas not closed to grazing is practically absent. The plantations mainly of chil have been raised during the last 15 years by seeking voluntary closures on favourable sites. The lower areas being very dry and with shallow soils are difficult to regenerate.

2.2.1: TYPE –5B/C2: NOTHERN DRY MIXED DECIDUOUS FORESTS: This type of forest occurs between altitudes of 340 meter to 900 meter m.s.l. the growth of the crop is best in deep soil due to retention of moisture contents elsewhere for a major part the upper canopy has got seriously broken due to various biotic influences. Most part of the tract has been occupied by small trees and shrubs such as Acacia catechu (Khair), Diospyros montana, Mallotus phillipinensis, Myctanthes arbortristis, Carissa spinarium and Mimosa rubicaulis and a very little of Shorea robusta. The main economic species is among them is Khair. Sal is localized in mainly two pockets i.e. Shantla and Saleti.

2.2.2: TREES : Acacia catechu, Anogeissus latifolia, Lannea coromandelica , Aegle marmelos, Mallotus philippinensis, Flacourtia indica, Limonia acidissima, Ehretia laevis, Zizyphus mauritiana, Ougeinia ougeinesis, Butea monosperma, Holoptelea integrifolia , Diospyres Montana, Cassia fistula, Mitragyna parvifolia , Cassia fistula. Casearia elliptica, Bauhinia variegata , Toona ciliata, Albizzia lebbek, Albizzia odoratissima, Acacia modesta, Acacia nilotica, Acacia leucophloea, Bombox ceiba, Litsea glutinosa, Eugenia cuminii, Shorea robusta, Emblica officinalis, Erythrina glabresons, Spondias pinnata.

2.2.3: SHRUBS : Carissa spinarum, Mimosa himalayana, Nyctanthes arbortristis, Dodonea viscosa, Woodfordia floribunda, Adhatoda zeylanica , Murraya koenigii , Zizyphus mauritiana, Holarrhena antidysentrica, Vitex negundo , Xeromphis spinosa, Lantana camara.

2.2.4: GRASSES : Chysopogon montanus (Dholoo), Hetropogon contortus (Lamboo), Chloris incompleta (takkevmadhana), Themeda anathera (Lungji), Bothriochloa, pertusa Brachiaria Spp., Eulalispsis binata (bhabbor), Aristida spp.

2.2.5: CLIMBERS : Pueraria tuberosa, Bauhinia vahlii, Acacia totilis, Clematis gouriana and cuscuta refleva.

The area under this type is approximately 12000 hectare which is 40% of the forest area.

2.3: TYPE 5B/DSI: DRY DECIDUOUS SCRUB : Mainly shrubs form the part of this type which usually do not grow beyond 4 meter in height. Continual over grazing, continuous fire and felling and lopping are said to be responsible for this forest type. Lantana camera has spread over huge tracts of this type.

The total area under this type is estimated at 8150 Ha, which is 26 % of the total forest area.

2.3.1: FLORISTICS: Dodonaea viscosa, Carissa spinarum wood fordia floribunda, Flacourtia indica Nyctanthus arbortrists, Lannea coromandilica, Aegle marmelos, Carria fistula, Acacia catechu.

2.4: Chil Forests. (Type 9/cla & 9/clb):

The chil (pinus roxburghii) forests generally occur between elevations of 800 to 1700 on a variety of formations, the best growth however, is attained between 1200 m and 1700 m on loose sandy loam soils derived from hard sand stones. Towards its lower limit chil is confined to the cool, northern aspects while on higher altitudes of about 1200 m and above, it occurs all over preferring ridges. The rainfall varies from 900 mm to 2600 mm. The site quality of chil is mainly III, the form and growth of the crop is generally inferior and often exhibits left hand twist .

Mohan had classified the chil forests of the composite Kangra Forest Division into three sub types: (a) Lower or unstable sub-type (b) Middle or intermediate sub-type (c) Upper or stable sub type

The forests of lower chil sub type are found between 450 and just over 600 m elevations and are characterized by a crop of trees of very poor quality, branchy, malformed and often exhibiting very marked left hand twist. Regeneration of chil both artificial and natural is extremely difficult, and probably quite frequently impossible. The forests often contain a large proportion of dense scrub where this is absent; the pure chil crops are very open. Such type is mainly found in Dehra, Dada and partially in Nagrota Surian Ranges of this Division.

This type covers a total area of 5159.89 hectare which is 16.6% of the total forest area.

The middle of intermediate-sub-type (9/C1a) occurs mainly on Shiwalik conglomerates and sandstones. This sub-type is mainly confined to some forests of Jawatamukhi, Lapiana and Nagrota Surian ranges. The common associates of chil in this sub-type are Terminalia chebula, Mallotus phillipinensis, Pyrus pashia, Syzygium cumin, Albizzia lebbek, A-ordoratissima, Emblic of ficinalis etc. The under growth of Carissa spinarum, Dodonaea viscosa, Rubus eltipticus, Flacourtia-spp , Murrava Koeniaii is moderately thick with grass growth of Heteropogon contortus, Themeda anathera, Cymbopogon martinii and Chrysopogon montana. Naturalregeneration is generally sufficient on cooler/sheltered sites but poor (almost absent) elsewhere. Fire and grazing are the main factors inhibiting regeneration.

The upper or stable sub-type (9/C1b) occurs mainly between 1200 m to 1700 m and is chiefly found in Jawalamukhi range. The majority of good chil forests of Dehra and D’sala Divisions belong to this sub- type. This subtype is characterised by more or less pure crop of chil with a light mixture of Quercus incana, Rhododendron arboreum, Pyrus pashia, Pieris ovalifolia etc. towards the upper limit and Albizzia spp, Syzygium, cuminii, Ficus spp, Terminalia chebula, T.Belerica, Bauhinia spp etc. at the lower limits. The undergrowth of Myrsine africana, Berberis spp, Rubus etlipticus, Murraya Koenigii, Wopdfordia frutjcose etc. is generally scanty. Natural regeneration is generally profuse and gets established easily if protection against fire and grazing is ensured. At the upper extremities the occassional fires are, however, not harmful for chil regeneration as it helps in elimination of other moisture loving broad leaved species besides making the crop fire resistant for the future.

Such types of forest are found in Jawalamukhi and Nagrota Surian Ranges (Mainly Khaman Block) of this Division.

This type of forest covers 4300 ha which is 15% of the total forest area of the Division.

2.5: TYPE 5B/E9: DRY BAMBOO BRAKES : Forest of such types are usually met at an attitude of 340 meters to 850 meters on well drained Shiwalik formations. Only one species Dandroclamus strictus occurs in the entire tract which forms relatively low and dense brakes. Congested clumps choked with dry bamboo are a common feature of the entire tract. However, in the favorable situations of good soil and moisture content, healthy bamboo clumps have been observed in clusters.

This forest type covers about 500 Ha which is 1.6% of the total forest area of Dehra Division .

2.5.1: FLORISTICS : The floristic characteristics are almost the same as that of previous type but the main associate are as follows: Diospyros chloroxylon, Holarrhena pubescens , Limonia acidissima, Ehretia laevis , Holoptelea integrifolia , Erythrina , Anogeissus latifolia, Lannea coromandelica Aegle mermelos, Adhatoda zeylanica , Carissa spinarum Nyctanthes arbor-tristis , and grasses are very common in the entire area are Chrysopogon montanus, Chloris incompleta, Themeda anathera.

Gregarious flowering has been reported in the year 1988. Natural regeneration is almost nil. The young shoots that come out in rains are usually destroyed by over grazing. Broad leaved species except Malotus phlipinensis also meet the same fate.

Table 12 : Area covered under various forest types:

Type of forest 5B/C2 5B/DSI 5B/E9 9/C1a 9/C1b Total

Area in Ha. 12000 8150 500 5159.89 4300 30109.89

Percent 40 26 2 17 15 100

2.6: GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GROWING STOCK:

As made clear earlier, the main economic species of the area is Acacia catechu (Khair) and the crop is scattered throughout the tract and is quite dominant in the lower areas of the Division. However, its growth varies due to many topographic and geological factors; generally it is very good in deep soil as well in depressions. Sal in the Western limit though showing struggle for survival as found in groups intermixed with chil and other broad leaved species. Chil is of site quality III. Its growth is comparatively better on the North or North Eastern aspects. Bamboo clumps which are on the South Eastern side of Division are found in clusters in Bakarar forest but the growth is stunted and they are disappearing in Dada Chatwal. Bamboo in Sansarpur Terrace area is almost finished bearing a few stunted group not more than 2-3 meters in height and replaced by khair which was planted there. Shisham crop is facing great danger due to drying up; causal organism is yet to be ascertained by the department. Anoguiesus latifolia is found on the North and North Eastern areas of the Division between 800-1200 meters, in patches. But its natural regeneration is almost nil due to the factor of over grazing. Terminalias and Albizia spp., Emblica officinalis do face the same problem due to over grazing and continuous fire, though their regeneration is satisfactory in the Reserved forests of the division) also see appendix XV for threatened plants of H.P.

2.7: INJURIES TO WHICH CROP IS LIABLE:

2.7.1: Fire: Fires are a common feature in Chil forests. Though Chil is greatly fire resistant than any other Himalayan conifer, yet owing to the fact that is found on hot dry slopes, the actual damage done by fire in chil forests is very serious . The tree owes its fire resisting power to the exceptionally thick bark produced alike on young saplings and on older trees, to the thickened and sometimes fleshy tap root developed in the seedling and young sapling stage, and to the power exhibited in the younger stages when recovering from injury by means of shoots from collar buds. The trees are though blackened at the base and the outer back scorched, retain the inner living cortex and the cambium and thus suffer no permanent injury.

The extent of damage caused by fire depends on the condition of the forest and the nature of the soil. It causes great havoc in regeneration areas and young plantation areas, where young regeneration is completely wiped out by fires. In even aged crops of above middle age with little or no under growth, the conflagration is confined to ground and results in retarding the increment and early drying of trees. In the crops with considerable number of young poles with scattered mature trees or an in irregular forest with a fair amount of under growth, the damage caused is enormous. Incendiarism encourages the recession of chil to higher elevations and is certainly one factor in restricting chil to northern aspects.

It may be emphasized that fires are periodic and not only annual. Pre-disposing causes are accumulation of dry pine needles, thick under growth, dry grass, felling debris, drought, defective resin tapping etc. The faulty resin tapping (too close resin channels) is another aggravating cause for the death of the trees by burning of cambium layer all around the trees. Largely the guidelines for resin tapping are not being followed and it results in loss of revenue and vitality of trees and their early death. Cause of a conflagration is not easy to ascertain. Often fires are set on purpose; to obtain fresh grass growth or drive away wild animals or to encroach upon forest land. Range wise detail of areas Burnt (in ha.)

Table 13: Range –wise Forest Fire Report in respect of Dehra Forest Division: (1997 – 2011)

Year Name of Name of No. of Kind of area affected by Total Estimated Divn. Range. cases Fire ( in ha) area ( in loss ( in ha) Rs.) Chil Pine Others 1997 Dehra. Dehra 2 Chil Pine Plantation & 9.00 - Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 4 -do- -do- 18.50 - Dadasiba. 2 -do- -do- 20.00 5000 Nagrota-Surian 1 -do- -do- 2.00 - Total :- 9 - - 49.50 5000 1998 Dehra. Dehra 13 Chil Pine Plantation & 149.50 36300 Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 15 -do- -do- 275.46 100850 Dadasiba. 15 -do- -do- 210.15 200000 Nagrota-Surian 6 -do- -do- 7.75 20500 Total :- 49 - - 642.86 357650 1999 Dehra. Dehra 25 Chil Pine Plantation & 675.50 293152 Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 39 -do- -do- 443.43 438752 Dadasiba. 16 -do- -do- 82.50 215000 Nagrota-Surian 12 -do- -do- 141.50 140233 Total :- 92 - - 1342.93 1087137 2000 Dehra. Dehra 2 Chil Pine Plantation & 14.95 - Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 3 -do- -do- 7.00 30000 Dadasiba. 2 -do- -do- 2.00 5000 Nagrota-Surian 1 -do- -do- 15.00 3600

Total :- 8 - - 38.95 38600 2001 Dehra. Dehra 5 Chil Pine Plantation & 64.00 58000 Ground fire etc.. Jawalamukhi 3 -do- -do- 38.00 10000 Dadasiba. 5 -do- -do- 20.00 25000 Nagrota-Surian 2 -do- -do- 13.00 57150 Total :- 15 - - 135.25 150150 2002 Dehra. Dehra 25 Chil Pine Plantation & 698.64 668600 Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 25 -do- -do- 347.43 86000 Dadasiba. 26 -do- -do- 380.00 218000 Nagrota-Surian 2 -do- -do- 42.50 19169 Total :- 78 - - 1468.57 991769 2003 Dehra. Dehra - Chil Pine Plantation & - - Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 51 -do- -do- 728.45 591227 Dadasiba. 7 -do- -do- 13.00 14500 Nagrota-Surian 4 -do- -do- 45.00 60000 Total :- 62 - - 786.45 665727 2004 Dehra. Dehra 15 Chil Pine Plantation & 157.00 297250 Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 1 -do- -do- 13.00 20000 Dadasiba. 5 -do- -do- 25.00 18000 Nagrota-Surian - -do- -do- - - Total :- 21 - - 195.00 335250 2005 Dehra. Dehra 4 Chil Pine Plantation & 17.00 50000 Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 2 -do- -do- 20.00 23000 Dadasiba. 15 -do- -do- 112.00 240000 Nagrota-Surian - -do- -do- - - Total :- 21 - - 149.00 313000 2006 Dehra. Dehra 1 Chil Pine Plantation & 29.25 25000 Ground fire etc. Jawalamukhi 5 -do- -do- 140.00 90000 Dadasiba. 2 -do- -do- 20.00 10000 Nagrota-Surian - -do- -do- - 25000 Total :- 8 - - 189.25 2007 Dehra. Dehra 1 Chil Pine - 3 ha. 25000 Jawalamukhi 1 - Ground fire. 40 ha. - Dadasiba. 2 Chil Pine - 18 ha. 45000 Nagrota-Surian 2 - Planting area 11 ha. 20000 Total :- 6 - - 72 ha 90000 2008 -do- Dehra 8 Chil Pine Planting area 246.99 ha. 318000 Jawalamukhi 5 -do- - 92 ha. 93000 Dadasiba. 10 -do- - 125 ha. 250000 Nagrota-Surian 2 - Ground fire 15 ha. -

Total :- 25 - - 478.99 ha. 661000 2009 -do- Dehra 17 Chil Pine Ground fire 214 285600 Jawalamukhi 9 -do- - 270 250130 Dadasiba. 5 -do- - 75 128000 Nagrota-Surian 4 - Ground Fire 59 51500 Total :- 35 - - 618 715230 2010 -do- Dehra 4 - Forests 72.50 247000 Jawalamukhi 6 Chil Pine - 22.50 72680 Dadasiba. 4 - Others. 41.00 96700 Nagrota-Surian 2 - -do- 16.00 38000 Total :- 16 - - 152.00 454380 2011 -do- Dehra - - - - Jawalamukhi - - - - - Dadasiba. 2 - Ground Fire 14.00 8500 Nagrota-Surian 2 - - 1.50 - Total :- 4 - - 15.50 8500

Non- carrying out of the departmental control burning and other silvicultural operations like pruning, cleaning and thinning in regeneration & regenerated areas have resulted in wiping out a large number of successfully regenerated (yet not established) areas. The fires are predominantly ground fires.

In the likely event of rising annual temperatures d ue to climate change, it is expected that disease incidence due to various pathogens men tioned above will increase. It is therefore essential that an effecti ve monitoring protocol for early detection of forest diseases is put in place, perhaps through a long term monitoring arrangement with the HFRI, Shimla. Appropriate preventive action as recommended by scientists, nee ds to be taken up by the department and can be funded under NPV componen t of CAMPA. 2.8: FAULTY RESIN TAPPING & CONSEQUENCES: There is a big problem with resin tapping. In Chil forests faulty resin tapping is perhaps the biggest threat to the forests. The RILL method was introduced several years ago. This is supposed to be less dama ging to the tree if properly carried out. However, inspection of the Ch il forests shows that neither the Corporation staff or the Forest staff o r the Resin labour of the Contractor has been trained or have a clue of what the Rill method entails. Resin is profitable business for the Corpo ration which has a vested interest in maximizing yield and in this pur suit the chil trees are virtually being tapped to death, whereas the Rill m ethod was introduced to precisely overcome this problem. In fact there i s an incentive for the contractor to maximize resin yield per section as t he Corporation pays for resin extracted even when a limit of 30 quintals per section has been fixed as the maximum permissible yield. There is vi rtually no checking by the forest staff and damage bills made at the end o f the season are more for tokenism than to effectively check / discourage faulty tapping (also see appendix-XVIII for HP Resin and Resin products Rules-2002).

The result is that the Chil forests are dying. Bad tapping virtually girdles the tree and repeated fires so weaken the stem that sooner than later the tree falls due to wind or in storms. Being a govern ment corporation manned by forest officers on deputation, it is diff icult / tricky to take penal action against what are seen as fellow office rs / officials. There is no incentive to direct stakeholders to think of sus tainable tapping. The Corporation stands to make more money if it properl y follows the Rill method by way of many more years of tapping the sam e tree. Other irregularities like illicit tapping make the scenar io worse. It is clear that many areas like PB I should not be allowed to be tapped and over tapped areas should be given complete rest for the period of this Working Plan. T a b l e 1 3 : Blazes on private trees in BlazesDehra FDin Govt forests handed over to HPSFDC Year No. of Blazes Year No. of Blazes 2001 29160 2001 24046 2002 37867 2002 50855 2003 59871 2003 48671 2004 65378 2004 49096 2005 71323 2005 47544 2006 80731 2006 58500 2007 70230 2007 59909 2008 75470 2008 58439 2009 73437 2009 55779 2010 69541 2010 56839 2011 76635 2011 75578

2.9: CLIMATE : Climate plays an important role in regeneration of forests. If all conditions relating to climate are favorable they directly contribute to the growth of plants. Sometimes the conditions vary and do considerable damage to growth as well as survival of regeneration which results in permanent loss of vegetation with gaps in the canopy and this leads to openings that make way for entry of weeds, unpalatable grasses and so forth.

2.9.1: Climate Changes : As a general trend, temperatures, especially in summer, have been rising throughout the tract. People report that it is now less cold during peak winter. However, there does not appear to be any great variation in annual rainfall figures over the last couple of decades. What does appear to be happening is that there are now more extreme rainfall events leading to local flooding and consequently to more erosion. The Chil and other BL forests with thick, dry undergrowth of Lantana during summer are more vulnerable to fire outbreak and spread potentially causing much more damage to standing trees than heretofore. This is especially true for established plantations of khair.

2.10: DROUGHT : As the entire tract is rain fed, delay in the monsoon means drought in the area. This not only affects the germination of forest seeds but also makes the conditions ideal for fire to destroy the vegetation right from the seedling to the pole stages. The rainfall pattern shows two distinct dry seasons, April, May, June and October, November and in the last few decades December too. Thus nearly half of the year is rainfall deficient and low water retention capacity in the forests – due to their continual degradation – leads to drought like conditions frequently. On the other hand, heavy to very heavy rainfall events causing “flash floods” are reportedly becoming more frequent and erratic. Such events even once a year cause heavy damage to forests, plantations and of course severe erosion. One way of tackling drought like situations is to go in for large scale staggered contour trenches especially in degraded and erosion prone hill sides. Such initiatives have been taken up under MNREGA in the department during the last few years and given the availability of MNREGA funds. This could be replicated on a large scale in nearly all the forest beats of Dehra FD. Another advantage is that staggered contour trenching could be taken up simultaneously in areas where lantana is being tackled and bamboo can be planted in the trenches for better survival.

2.11: EROSION : The entire tract is rain fed and fragile. Sudden increase in down pour further aggravates depletion of vegetative cover and makes way for weeds to come. Continuous fire and over grazing, illicit lopping and illicit felling makes the situation ideal for erosion. Top forest soil is lost, and sand stones are exposed. Finger like projections are quite apparent due to such erosion and are available mainly in Dadasiba, Dehra (Bankhandi block) and Nagrota Surian Ranges (Baldoa forest).

2.12: WIND : Wind causes considerable damage to chil forests. Badly tapped chil trees immediately fall victim to wind and as a result, get uprooted. While falling and sliding down the hill such trees damage the nearby saplings and makes it easy way for fire to engulf the area.

2.13: LOPPING : Generally done for procuring fodder, twigs for fuel wood and spreading leaves under the domestic cattle to protect them against moisture created by animal excreta which later on after dumping becomes a source of manure for agricultural fields. Lopping is not restricted to the vicinity of villages but has found its way deep into the forests even reserved forests are not spared. At certain locations Pinus roxburghi, Acacia catechu, Terminalia tomentosa, Albizzia lebek are victim of such human activities which affects seed production and trees cannot develop proper canopy. Anogiessus latifolia is the worst affected species. Its lopping is done before the seeds mature and this further reduces the chances of natural regeneration. If at all they get little chance grazing does not allow it to grow. Lopping impact of this species is severe in Nagrota Surian Range (Amblela, Baldoa forests) and Jawalamukhi Range of this Division.

Table 13: Illicit lopping

Year No illicit Amt of Year No illicit Amt of lopping compensation lopping compensation cases Rs: cases Rs: 1995 -96 418 11015 2003 -04 180 11523 1996 -97 470 15246 2004 -05 185 9257 1997 -98 284 10254 2005 -06 116 5915

1998 -99 286 10781 2006 -07 100 4730 1999 -2000 35 1460 2007 -08 79 20936 2000 -01 927 38857 2008 -09 249 17513 2001 -02 125 5630 2009 -10 122 7748 2002 -03 208 10830

2.14: GRASS CUTTING : Illegal grass cutting as well as cutting grass and bamboo without the supervision of forest functionaries has done considerable damage by cutting the planted and naturally regenerated seedlings along with the grass. At certain places grass is cut before it sheds its seed. Thus germination process is stopped and makes the situation ideal for erosion or for unpalatable grasses to come up.

2.15: MARKING AND FELLING : Trees are generally marked for felling by Right Holder and Forest Corporation. At the time of marking interest of the individual is given top priority than of the forest; as a result a good seed bearer with clear bole and well spread crown is axed. Furthermore, avoidable and unavoidable damage causes a great set back to the growth of the vegetation. The situation becomes worse when debris is left in the forests, aggravating fire hazard.

2.16: INSECTS AND FUNGI : An insect like Hypophyla robusta , a chil borer, has caused some damage to chil forest in the area. Termites have caused tremendous damage to shisham seedlings as well as plants of many broadleaved species up to the sapling stage. If unchecked, it will cause havoc to the entire tract of the scrub forest. Bugworms (clemia crameri), caterpillers appear occasionally locally in the chil forests and cause defoliation. However, the damage has not been much. Locusts (Acridium peregrnum) swarmed the areas of the tract in 1935, 1938, 1950, 1951 and 1955. The damage was serious in the years 1950 and 1955. Thereafter, it has not appeared. This causes mortality among bamboo and chil trees and increment to be put on by the forest for a year or two is lost as it strips the plants naked of all leaves.

A fungus (Ganoderma-lucidium and fusariam) has been reportedly responsible for the drying up of shisham crop. Large numbers of trees of shisham have dried up in the last two years since the appearance above named fungus in the area during the year 1999 to 2000 .The process of drying has not stopped and is still continuing in the entire tract. As no remedial measures have been taken by the departmental agencies though suggestions in this regard were made by the H.F.R.I. Shimla and F.R.I. Dehradun. These need to be implemented as so far nothing appears to have been done in the field in this regard. As a result the drying up of the Shisham has been continuing. It will be a parmanent loss to this species and it will create a permanent gap in the growing stock and create difficulties in re- establishing shisham crop in the near future.

2.17: CLIMBERS : Not much damage by climbers has been done in the area. However, some damage caused by Bauhinia vahlii in bamboo forest of Santla Beat and scrub forest in Saleti beat of Dehra Range by hampering the growth of the plants and shoots in the earlier stage has been seen.

2.18: ALIEN INVASIVE SPECIES : Much damage to the forest has been caused by Lantana camara in the entire tract of the area dealt with. Especially damage caused by it is much severe in the dry mixed deciduous forest and dry

deciduous scrub forest. Continuous fire, illicit grazing and grazing beyond the carrying capacity of the area and browsing and lopping create the openings and paves way for the entry of Lantana camara. Other weeds namely, Murraya, Carissa are also commonly found in the area.

Table 14 : below shows the results of a survey carried out to assess the spread of Lantana in Dehra FD in early 2010: Range No of Forests Total Forest Approx. Area in Ha Percentage Surveyed Area covered Under Lantana Jawalamukhi 10 1249 1008 80.70 N/ Surian 8 2477 1010 40.77 Dada Siba 28 3559 2168 60.91 Dehra 119 7461 4821 64.61 165 14746 9007 61.08

Out of the 165 forests surveyed, it turns out that over 60 % of the area is already infested with lantana. Range wise the infestation varies between 61 % in Dada Siba to over 80 % in Jawalamukhi. This position is alarming and given the very high pressure of grazing in the division, (see next section), there is little hope of any natural regeneration of native species coming up. Even existing plantations done in the last few years would be susceptible to suppression by lantana. Clearly then, any strategy aimed at regenerating the forests of Dehra FD during the course of this Working Plan would primarily need to tackle the spread and elimination of lantana as a top priority. A tested and good method for the eradication of lantana has been discussed in Protection cum rehabilitation Working Circle chapter of part II of this Working Plan.

2.19: GRAZING : Grazing by domestic animals and that too in the area not open for grazing or grazing in the area open for grazing beyond the carrying capacity and grazing by stray cattle called Bhutars has caused tremendous damage to the natural regeneration as well as to the plantations raised artificially. The damage of this kind has been seen more in scrub forests. In Bankhandi area 2-3 years seedlings of Dalbergia sisso had been found browsed so severely that its growth is still at ground level and give it a stunted look, (merely 2”-3” at ground level). Overgrazing has caused a great damage to the economical species of the area and has opened door for the weeds to enter in. Table 15: The latest Cattle Census Figures for Dehra FD are : Range Mules Cows Ox Buffaloes Goat Sheep Horse Total Dehra 499 8584 5572 13237 4473 920 133 33418 N / Surian 535 9525 4573 10235 3575 725 335 29503 Jawalamukhi 395 8120 5520 12645 4590 825 110 32205 Dada Siba 330 6692 4561 12620 4013 860 65 29141 124267 (Source: Vet Deptt. 2007)

Table 16: Grazing Permits issued to Migratory Graziers in Dehra FD :

Years Name of Number of grazing No. of No. of Total Range permit issued to Sheep Goat Gaddis 2001 -02 to 2010 -11 N / Surian 171 13061 5559 18620

2001 -02 to 2010 -11 J/mukhi 207 20584 5185 25769 2001 -02 to 2010 -11 Dada Siba 49 6201 3320 9521 2001 -02 to 2010 -11 Dehra 45 5664 3114 8778 Totals 472 45530 17178 62708

2.20: ENCROACHMENTS : Of the total forest area of Dehra division, about 81% falls in the categories of Un-demarcated PF, Un-classed forests and Co-operative Societies forests. All these forest categories are not demarcated or surveyed on the ground thus making them highly vulnerable to encroachments. In order to ensure proper protection of the forest estate and to prevent further encroachments it is imperative that all the fore mentioned categories of forests need to be properly surveyed and demarcated using GPS and permanent boundary pillars within the period of this Working Plan.

Table 17: DETAILs OF ENCROACHMENTS CASES YEARWISE/ RANGEWISE W.E.F. 2006-07 TO 31.03.2011

Year Name of Encroachment Cases decided Cases sent Cases Appeal filed in the Range cases pending by Collector- back to the evicted court of Divisional cum-DFO revenue court Commissioner 2006-07 Dehra 19 19 0 11 8 Jawala Mukhi 36 36 0 27 9 Dadasiba 2 2 0 2 0 Nagrota Surian 0 0 0 0 0 Total 57 57 0 40 17 2007-08 Dehra 11 9 1 5 4 Jawala Mukhi 0 0 0 0 0 Dadasiba 0 0 0 0 0 Nagrota Surian 0 0 0 0 0 Total 11 9 1 5 4 2008-09 Dehra 3 3 0 1 2 Jawala Mukhi 0 0 0 0 0 Dadasiba 0 0 0 0 0 Nagrota Surian 0 0 0 0 0 Total 3 3 0 1 2 2009-10 Dehra 1 1 0 0 1 Jawala Mukhi 2 2 0 0 2 Dadasiba 2 2 0 2 0 Nagrota Surian 0 0 0 0 0 Total 5 5 0 2 3 2010-11 Dehra 3 3 0 3 0 Jawala Mukhi 0 0 0 0 0 Dadasiba 12 12 0 2 0 Nagrota Surian 0 0 0 0 0 Total 15 15 0 5 0

Table 18: Boundary Pillars in Dehra Forest Division :

Name of Range. No. of Boundary Pillars. Total Small Large. 1 2 3 4 Dehra 523 206 729 Nagrota - Surian 369 327 696 Dadasiba 508 168 676 Jawalamukhi 443 217 660 Grand Total 1843 918 2761

II(B) FOREST FAUNA

20: The Dehra Forest Division surrounds the Pong Reservoir which is also a Wildlife Sanctuary, a Ramsar site and now an internationally known destination for wintering migratory birds in north India. The birds of Pong have been recorded quite well in “BIRDS OF KANGRA” . A more recent, illustrated book “WILD WINGS “ on the birds of Pong as well as on the fauna of the area including butterflies has been brought out by Sh. Devindra Dhadwal, Forest Range Officer who has spent over 5 years in the Pong area documenting and researching local and migratory birds of the Pong wetland.

The Wildlife Wing of the HP Forest Department has launched a dedicated website for the Pong wildlife sanctuary at: www.hpkangra.nic.in/pong

2.20.1: Table 19: Human Leopard Conflict cases / incidents reported from Dehra FD :

S No Year Range Particulars Remarks 1 2002 -03 DADA SIBA Leopard kill 1 Jersy cow Compensation granted 2 2003 -04 Jawalamukhi Leopard injured lady Compensation granted 3 2003 -04 Dehra Hunted by hunter This leopard was declared man eater. 4 2003 -04 Dada Siba Leopard kills 8 goats & 1 Compensation granted jersey cow 5 2004 -05 Dehra Trapped Rescued and was sent to Gopalpur zoo. 6 2004 -05 Dehra Illicit poaching FIR registered with police; later Offender reported untraceable. 7 2004 -05 Nagrota Illicit poaching FIR registered with police; later Surian Offender reported untraceable. 8 2005 Jawalamukhi Leopard injured human Compensation granted. 9 2007 Jawalamukhi Leopard injured h uman Compensation granted. 10 2007 -08 Dehra Illicit poaching FIR registered with police; later Offender reported untraceable. 11 2007 -08 Dada Siba Leopard kill 1 Jersy cow Compensation granted 12 2010 Jawalamukhi Leopard injured human Compensation granted.

2.20.2: Monkey Problem Areas in Dehra FD: People have not totally abandoned cropping, but, there are cases where some farmers are abandoning cropping in the outer periphery of the villages, esp. in areas which are less productive. Areas like Bilaspur (Bilaspur beat,Range-Nagrota), Jhakleharh (Maeoa beat,Range-Dehra ), Dargeh (Sakari beat,Range Nagrota Surian), Jalakh (Beat-Bilaspur,Range-Nagrota), Guler(Beat-Bilaspur,Range-Nagrota) etc.

Table 20: Approximate number of monkeys from / around temples in the Division : Range Beat Areas Approx Numbers Dehra Bankhandi Bagla Mukhi Temple 250 Dehra Shantla Nihari 20 , Do not stay permanently Dehra Kurna Saleti 20, -do - Nagrota Surian Masrur Masrur Temple 100, incl. surrounds Nagrota Surian Haripur Ram mandir 100 Nagrota Surian Haripur Santoshi Mata Mandir 150 Nagrota Surian Guler Guler Railway station 180

The above numbers, however, do not reflect a dire, agriculture threatening scenario.

2.20.3: Table 21: DETAILS OF VULTURE NESTING SITES IN DEHRA FOREST DIVISION; Recorded in 2010-11:

S N NAME OF NAME OF NAME OF RANGE Co-Ordinates NAME OF BREEDING PLACE BEAT LOCATION 1 Surani Surani Jawalamukhi U-5D Ghandwar 2 N 32,13.5725, Bateharh Khuman Nagrota-Surian E-76,0.8555 U-2D Ladol 3 Lalpura Masroor Nagrota -Surian N 32,4.8405, R-27D Khuman, E-76,8.6815 U-11D Jani Masroor

(Source: Range Officer, Wildlife, Nagrota Surian)

The alarming decline in vulture populations across the country due to the widespread use of diclofenac ( a now banned drug), has become an area of concern prompting documentation of vulture breeding sites and initiating conservation action like prevention of forest fires around these sites, as a matter of urgency. The forest department & Corporation staff needs to be made aware of this priority and constantly monitor the status of vulture breeding sites in their areas.

The names of the local and migratory birds and wild life found in the area has been mentioned in the list of common animals and birds of Vol-1 part -I.

CHAPTER - III

UTILIZATION OF FOREST PRODUCE

3: AGRICULTURAL CUSTOMS AND WANTS OF THE PEOPLE :

3.1: POPULATION: The population density for Kangra district is 263 persons / sq. km as against the state average of 123 persons / sq. km., (Census, 2011). The corresponding figures for Dehra FD are 237.5 / sq. km in 2001 and 300 / sq. km in 2011. Given that about 75 % of the 1200 sq.km area of Dehra FD is under non forest use, agriculture remains the pre-dominant economic activity. The operational land holding for Kangra district is recorded as 0.90 ha (Director, Land Records, 2000-01). Assuming a similar figure as applicable to Dehra FD, it is clear that the average size of land holding is inadequate to provide sufficient food grains for a family of five for the entire year. Therefore, dependence on waged labour is very high. With an average sex ratio of over 1000 in all the tehsils of Dehra FD (Census 2001), it appears that a large number of males work outside the area and, many reportedly in the army.

Generally most of the population works on daily wages with P.W.D., I.P.H., Forest, and HPSFC. Main economic species of the area is khair. Khair which grows on private land is allowed to be felled under the 10 year felling programme and regulated under L.P.A. and I.F.A. The grower gets remunerative prices by selling their khair trees which are used to make its product ‘katha’ in bhatties established in this division and some of the khair wood is also sold to Sagar Katha Udhog at Kala Amb in Sirmour District and Mahesh Udyog at Gagret.

Resin extracted from chil is another source of income for the local people. Fuelwood extraction and bamboo clumps add to the income of local people. Since the entire tract dealt with is rainfed barring 300, hactare agricultural land which has been brought under irrigated land. Accordingly people grow rice, wheat and maize. A very few of the farmers are able to produce surplus which they send to various adjoining markets, otherwise almost all produce is used to meet their own requirement. The food grain,pulses, salt are generally imported from the adjoining areas of Punjab state.

The rural population greatly depend on forests, mainly for timber, fuelwood charcoal, wood for agriculture implements, grass and fodder for live stock, leaves for manure, stone and slate for building works and herbs for medicinal use etc., as per their rights recorded in the forest settlement. Pressure on forest is, therefore, tremendous. The rural population depends much more on timber for construction of their houses, than the urban population as the latter has started using iron door, shutters, window frames. Gradually with the influx of money due to various employment resources and forestry based revenue generating resources, the income of rural population has increased considerably and is gradually switching to pacca houses. The pressure is not on chil species but much on shisham, toon and other broad leaved which are preferred to chil because latter is attacked by termites. Annual requirement of timber for building purpose is about 260 m 3. The rural population depends on forest to meet fuel wood requirement. A very few are having L.P.G. connection which is supplied by one Agency at Dehra. Recently in the beginningof year 2001 one more LPG Agency has been opened at Jawalaji. The urban population generally use LPG gas to meet there energy requirements. Even the hoteliers and dhaba owners have started switching on LPG to a greater extent. Apart from the above the pressure for the requirement of fuel wood in the rural areas for coal tarring of roads by PWD still exists. Grazing remains a great burden on the forests, not only the local cattle but the migratory sheep & goats of gaddis graze in the area under due permit obtained from the Division Office at Dehra.

It has been observed that grazing has become a great nuisance to the forest especially for young regenerating coppice shoots, natural and artificially raised seedlings which ultimately makes the area vulnerable to fire and erosion and opening caused due to plucking of the leaves for fodder by means of lopping, make entry of weeds.

3.2: MARKET AND MARKETABLE PRODUCTS :

Chief marketable forests products are: 1. Resin 2. Bamboo; 3. Chil timber and pulp wood; 4. Katha 5. Charcoal and fire wood

3.2.1: RESIN : Resin is being extracted through H.P. state forests corporation every year. Following table reveals the resin extracted by HPSFC and Private resin received from the land holding of people. Table 11(b) shows yearwise resin blazes worked in Govt. and private lots.

3.2.2: BAMBOO : Bamboo is being extracted by HPSFC from Govt. forests and by individuals from private areas. The following table depicts the quantum of bamboo extracted from the division.

Table-22: Detail of Bamboos and Resin Extracted in Dehra Forest Division during last 17 years:

Year Bamboo (in Nos) Resin Blazes Govt. lots Private Govt. Lots Private 1993 -94 20436 ______1994 -95 47964 ____ 41301 ____ 1995 -96 ______36721 ____ 1996 -97 ____ 121491 23206 49995 1997 -98 147105 188666 25155 47081 1998 -99 67972 105056 26972 43893 1999 -2K ____ 155404 21827 30999 2000 -01 ____ 245931 24317 32067 2001 -02 14870 264280 50855 29160 2002 -03 6020 206792 48671 37867 2003 -04 8390 236509 49096 59871 2004 -05 5808 234403 47544 65378 2005 -06 0 241860 58500 71323 2006 -07 44508 343630 59909 80731 2007 -08 0 0 58439 75470 2008 -09 0 0 32529 79074 2009 -10 0 834612 56839 69541

3.2.3: CHIL TIMBER AND PULP WOOD : Chil is an important species of the area. The timber is used for railway sleepers and for making pulp. The table depicts the chil timber and pulp wood taken out of the forest. ???

3. 2.4: KATHA : Katha is derived from khair wood. There is complete moratorium on green felling. However, katha is being obtained from Private forests via the 10 year felling cycle regulated under the LPA. As on 3/2001

there were 6 Katha Bhatties in this division. Part of khair wood is sold to Mahesh Udyog at Gagret and Sagar Katha Udyog at Kala Amb, Sirmour District in H.P.

Katha: The following table depicts the quantity of Katha exported from this division in last 18 years. Table – 23: Katha exported

Year Qty in qtls Year Qty in qtls 1993 -1994 941.50 2002 -2003 1076.00 1994 -1995 390.03 2003 -2004 923.00 1995 -1996 895.85 2004 -2005 628.00 1996 -1997 938.76 2005 -2006 744.00 1997 -1998 981.70 2006 -2007 768.00 1998 -1999 651.10 2007 -2008 1008.00 1999 -2000 837.25 2008 -2009 650.00 2000 -2001 1133.65 2009 -2010 658.00 2001 -2002 1125.00 2010 -2011 673.00 Total 15022.84

3.2.5: FIRE WOOD AND CHARCOAL : There being a complete ban on green felling, fire wood and charcoal is generally extracted from the salvage trees marked for the HPSFDC. In addition, private areas also contribute to fire wood and charcoal extraction.

3.3: LINES OF EXPORT : Main line of export is the roads as almost entire tract has a network of Kacha & Pacca roads. Labour for the conversion of charcoal is generally local where as it is imported from Nepal & J&K for timber extraction & khair wood extraction right from felling to its transportation to road side.

3.4: PAST AND CURRENT PRICES : Market reflects upward trend due to increase in demand of forest produce. It is elucidated in the following table; -

Table – 24 : Statement showing the per/M3 cost of various forest produce as mentioned under from the year 1996-97 to 2009-2010 in Fatehpur forest working division.

Year Timber Fuel wood Charcoal Khair wood BL Logs Bamboo Resin P/M3 P/M3 P/Qtls P/M3 P/M3 P/Bundle P/Qtl 1996 -97 3693 164 182 8198 8704 48 1932 1997 -98 4257 212 215 6756 6868 56 2203 1998-99 5621 216 266 8141 7828 56 2610 1999 -2K 6249 230 191 9984 8243 62 1567 2000 -01 6050 263 188 9653 7495 96 2651 2001 -02 3200 800 600 20000 2300 0 2300 2002-03 3200 800 600 20000 2200 0 2400 2003 -04 3200 800 600 20000 2500 60 2200 2004 -05 3200 800 600 20000 2500 65 2200

2005 -06 3200 400 500 18000 4000 0 2700 2006 -07 4000 450 650 21500 3000 75 2700 2007 -08 3400 500 750 24000 4000 0 2750 2008 -09 5000 975 1100 30000 4700 0 3100 2009-10 5000 700 1000 25000 4000 0 3300

Table – 25 : Statement showing the P/M3 cost of various forest produce as mentioned under from the year 1996-97 to 2000-2001 in Hamirpur forest working division.

Year Timber Fuel wood Charcoal Khair wood BL Logs Bamboo Resin P/M 3 P/M 3 P/Qtls P/M 3 P/M 3 P/Bundle P/Qtl 1996 -1997 2929 96 114 9577 0 0 0

1997 -1998 3334 106 119 9577 0 0 0

1998 -1999 3590 106 119 13313 4470 0 0

1999 -2000 4812 106 119 15256 3721 0 0

2000 -2001 4852 106 119 11564 2870 2494 2300

2001 -2002 3800 182 400 11640 3050 0 2400

2002 -2003 3230 182 400 11700 3100 27 2200

2003 -2004 2670 185 400 11800 3250 0 2200

2004 -2005 3200 220 485 19000 3500 0 2200

2005 -2006 4000 231 485 18531 3800 0 2700

2006 -2007 3400 300 509 20000 4000 0 2700

2007 -2008 3400 360 728 23000 4000 0 2750

2008 -2009 5000 360 738 30110 6000 0 3100

2009 -2010 5000 360 738 22220 6500 0

CHAPTER - IV ACTIVITIES OF THE HP STATE FOREST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

4.1: HARVESTING AND MARKETING OF FOREST PRODUCE :

4.1.1: An undertaking of HP Govt : H.P. State Forest Corporation Limited an undertaking of the HP Govt. came into existence on the 25 th of March 1974. The Corporation deals with the marketing of mainly Timber, fuelwood, pulpwood, bamboos, Khair, rosin, turpentine oil, subsidiary products (viz., phenyl, varnish, black Japan). In addition, a timber seasoning & joinery unit at Baijnath is presently engaged in joinery works, timber chemical treatment and timber seasoning for Government as well as private timber.

4.1.2: The objectives of Corporation : The Corporation has been mainly created with the following objectives: 1. To carry out the extraction of timber and resin on scientific lines by adopting suitable modern techniques. 2. To eliminate the Contractor's agency in respect of works of timber extraction and resin tapping. 3. To obviate the chances of illicit felling of trees, illicit tapping of resin and other malpractices. 4. To work the forests on commercial lines by recycling of funds for works and also by raising funds from financial institutions as per requirements.

4.1.3: Expertise of Corporation : The Corporation has got Expertise in the following:

4.1.4: RESIN PROCESSING : With the two rosin factories working for more than three decades, the Corporation has fully trained staff for this work and expertise in this respect is available for the purpose of resin processing into various products and in their marketing. Notification of Himachal Pradesh Resin and Resin Products (Regulation of Trade)Act,1981 is at appendix XVIII(A)

4.1.5: Awarding Tenders : The schedule for inviting sealed tenders from registered Labour Supply Mates of appropriate category for resin extraction and its carriage up to Road Side Depots ; felling, conversion and carriage of timber, fuel wood, pulpwood, khair billets and bamboo bundles of various lots of fwds up to road side depots; roping down of timber, truck transportation of timber and fuel wood of different lots of the various Forest Working Divisions is fixed well in advance and these are received and opened on the same day at the respective Divisional Offices (Hamirpur & Fatehpur) in the presence of tender(s) who wish to be present at the time of opening of tenders. Negotiation of rates follow with the lowest tender(s).The tenders are invited on prescribed form which can be obtained from the concerned office of the D.M.s @ Rs.100/- per form and are required to be submitted and accompanied with required EMD in shape of FDR on Nationalized Bank duly pledged in favour of concerned Divisional Managers.

4.1.6: Jurisdiction of Forest Working Divisions : Area of Nagrota Surian, Dada Siba and Dehra ranges falls under the jurisdiction of Forest Working Division Fatehpur whereas Jwalamukhi range falls under the jurisdiction of Hamirpur FWD. The following table will reveal the position in respect with the various product extractions from the Forests by these Forest Working Divisions:

Table – 26: Statement showing details of Chil Govt. lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD, Fatehpur; 2001 to 2010 Year No. St. vol Target fixed Target achi eved Dispatched lots marked Timber Pulp F/w Timber Pulp F/w 2001 25 2957.87 887.00 60 0 696.658 40.00 00 696.658 2002 20 3938.45 733.00 0 200 695.140 0 180.00 695.140 2003 21 3529.98 987.00 70 0 910.614 54.00 0 910.614 2004 18 2495.49 624.100 100 0 580.132 97.50 0 580.12 2005 19 1872.18 472.500 50 0 418.134 40.00 0 418.134 2006 11 2472.64 703.00 85 0 678.883 75.00 0 678.883 2007 16 2023.70 630.00 20 0 550.358 15.00 0 550.358 2008 15 1965.98 590.00 35 0 560.190 25.00 0 560.190 2009 14 2017.57 605.00 15 0 410.123 10.00 0 388.416 2010 16 1833.81 550.00 25 0 35.321 20.00 0 26.635

Table – 27: Details of Chil Private lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD, Fatehpur; 2001 to 2010 Year No St vol/ Target fixed Target achi eved Dispatched Lots marked Timber P/w F/w Timber P/w F/w 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 3 590.27 219.00 75 35 192.994 132.50 40.0 192.994 2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2009 14 3307.06 1245.84 335 0 804.550 362.00 0 804.550 2010 2 494.58 148.35 50 0 55.563 0 0 46.073

Table – 28: L ots worked in Dehra FD under FCA 1980, through FWD, Fatehpur; 2001 to 2010

Year No Area Target M3 Target Dispatched lots Marked Achieved sold 2001 2 61.11 hac 56562 56562 56562 2002 1 25.01 hac 20000 21454 21454 2003 1 21.37 hac 15000 16914 16914 2004 1 27.72 hac 8000 14178 14178 2005 0 0 0 0 0 2006 1 98.66 hac 24500 24500 24500 2007 0 0 0 0 0 2008 0 0 0 0 0 2009 0 0 0 0 0 2010 1 61.11 hac 31000 13950 13950

Table – 29: Resin extracted from Dehra FD & dispatched to R & T Bilaspur; 2001 to 2010 Year Total Total Target Sent to R Pure Remarks Blaze Target Achieved & T B/P Resin 2001 10162 392.52 396.27 396.27 388.36 -- 2002 26834 992.13 856.63 856.63 844.38 -- 2003 26206 995.15 896.24 896.24 884.77 -- 2004 25408 1067.13 1069.47 1069.47 1048.22 -- 2005 24680 1021.87 1029.86 1029.86 1010.96 -- 2006 35019 1470.80 1444.66 1444.66 1433.20 -- 2007 34160 1434.73 1430.89 1430.89 1383.34 14.45 Qtl Resin Theft & Recovery received 2008 33630 1412.46 1361.36 1361.36 1334.43 -- 2009 32529 1338.41 1245.59 1245.59 1201.96 -- 2010 33594 1349.36 1242.53 1242.53 1209.01 -- 282222 11474.56 10973.50 10973.50 10738.63 --

Table – 30: Details of Govt lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD, Hamirpur; 2001 to 2010

No Achieved Dispatched of C/coal Timber P/w F/ w C/coal Year lots St Vol (Qtls) 2001 -02 9 2770.62 0.000 547.126 67.000 916.000 0.00 547.126 2002 -03 13 2742.99 425.000 1334.011 119.000 41.000 688.25 1334.011 2003 -04 10 2478.97 568.000 936.646 79.500 41.000 775.00 936.646 2004 -05 15 4064.08 582.000 1240.845 102.000 3.000 601.50 1240.845 2005 -06 9 2456.17 387.000 646.636 31.000 6.000 515.60 646.636 2006 -07 13 2205.6 421.000 678.452 43.000 190.000 202.25 678.452 2007 -08 13 2060.22 302.500 710.607 30.000 186.000 250.00 710.607 2008 -09 10 4417.2 460.000 1702.491 76.000 639.000 489.25 1702.491 2009 -10 13 2943.85 357.000 431.080 12.000 104.000 110.00 431.080 2010 -11 13 2524.57 0.000 0 0.000 0.000 0.000

Table – 31: Details of Pvt. lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD, Hamirpur: 2001 to 2010 No Year lots Target Achieved Timber P/ w C/coal 2001-02 Timber P/w F/w C/coal St Vol m3 m3 (Qtls) 2001 -02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 2002 -03 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 2003 -04 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 2004 -05 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 2005 -06 3 1023.57 411.0 11.000 75.000 417.000 40 20 50.00 2006 -07 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 2007 -08 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 2008 -09 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 2009 -10 1 95.30 28.000 10 0 0 0 0 0.00 2010 -11 2 732.27 307.000 245.000 0 0 0 0

Table – 32: Govt. Chil Lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD Fatehpur, 2001 to 2010:

Year No St. vol Target fixed Target achi eved Dispatched lots marked Timber P/w F/w Timber P/w F/w 2001 25 2957.87 887.00 60 0 696.658 40.00 00 696.658 2002 20 3938.45 733.00 0 200 695.140 0 180 695.140 2003 21 3529.98 987.00 70 0 910.614 54.00 0 910.614 2004 18 2495.49 624.10 100 0 580.132 97.50 0 580.12 2005 19 1872.18 472.50 50 0 418.134 40.00 0 418.134 2006 11 2472.64 703.00 85 0 678.883 75.00 0 678.883 2007 16 2023.70 630.00 20 0 550.358 15.00 0 550.358 2008 15 1965.98 590.00 35 0 560.190 25.00 0 560.190 2009 14 2017.57 605.00 15 0 410.123 10.00 0 388.416 2010 16 1833.81 550.00 25 0 35.321 20.00 0 26.635

Table – 33: Pvt Chil lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD Fatehpur, 2001 to 2010:

Year No St.vol/ Target fixed Target achi eved Dispatched lots marked Timber P/w F/w Timber P/ w F/w 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 3 590.27 219.00 75 35 192.994 132.50 40.0 192.994 2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2009 14 3307.06 1245.84 335 0 804.550 362.00 0 804.550 2010 2 494.58 148.35 50 0 55.563 0 0 46.073

Table – 34: Details FCA removals in Dehra FD through FWD Fatehpur, 2001 to 2010:

Year No Stvol Target fixed Target achived Dispatched lots mark ed Timber P/w F/w Timber P/w F/w 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2009 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2010 1 42.6 9.799 3.00 0 9.810 14.00 0 9.810

Table – 35: Bomboo lots worked in Dehra FD through FWD Fatehpur, 2001 to 2010:

S Year No Area Target Target Dispatched No lots Marked fixed Achieved 1. 2001 2 61.11 hac 56562 56562 56562 2. 2002 1 25.01 hac 20000 21454 21454 3. 2003 1 21.37 hac 15000 16914 16914 4. 2004 1 27.72 hac 8000 14178 14178 5. 2005 0 0 0 0 0 6. 2006 1 98.66 hac 24500 24500 24500 7. 2007 0 0 0 0 0 8. 2008 0 0 0 0 0 9. 2009 0 0 0 0 0 10 2010 1 61.11 hac 31000 13950 13950

4.2.1: The labour supply mates (LSMs) execute an agreement with the HPSFDC and make use of local labour and also import labour from J&K and engage Nepali labour for carrying out many of the logging operations. Extension of any kind in the working of lots hampers the plantation programme and effective closure. Under the Himachal Pradesh Forests (protection from fire) Rules, 1999, the corporation is duty bound to deploy sufficient staff to prevent and extinguish forest fires and checking of illicit felling in consultation with the DFO as and when required.

4.3: Resin Tapping : Resin is obtained from Pinus roxburghi (chil) trees. Resin tapping started in 1912 in this region. The resin tapping season starts from 15 th of March and lasts till 15 th November. The minimum diameter for tapping chil trees is fixed at 35 cm dbh because trees at this diameter are suitable for obtaining optimum yield.

4.3.1: RILL METHOD : Loose bark over a surface area of about 45 X 30 cm is removed with the help of bark shaver leaving a space of about 15 cm from the ground level. The bark left should not exceed 2 mm in thickness to facilitate freshening. A Blaze frame is put in vertical position on the debarked area and outer boundaries of the blaze are marked with black Japan. Position of the blaze and the central groove are marked with the help of wooden board and marking gauge. A central groove is cut by drawing the groove cutter from above downwards. Since in the first year the blaze is very near the ground, the groove cutter is moved upwards. Central groove should be centrally placed. The lip is fixed with the help of two horse shoe nails so that it makes an angle of 45 o with the tree. A 5 cm long wire nail is driven into the tree about 2 cm below the midpoint of the lip for hanging the collection pot on it. The nail is driven at an angle so that the pot hangs snugly against the tree. It is suggested that instead of wire nails, bamboo/wooden nails should be used for hanging the pot with tree. In the event of a fire breaking out in the forest these wooden nails will get burnt and the pot will be dislodged from the tree. The iron nail holds the pot fast to the tree and the burning resin in the pot acts like a blow lamp.

4.3.2: FRESHENING : First rill should be drawn by moving the freshening knife from the lowest point of the central groove upwards along the blaze boundary in a way that rill makes an angle of 40* with the central groove. The process is repeated on the other side of the central groove. For the second and subsequent freshening which are repeated app. at weekly intervals, the guide of the freshening knife should move touching the upper side of the previous rill. The rills should be parallel to each other with an uncut bark (inter rill bark) of 5 mm in between two successive rills. Width of the rill is 6-7 mm and depth 2 mm (excluding 2mm. Depth of unshaved bark). The length of rills should neither exceed nor fall short of the blaze limit. One freshening is given almost every week and the blaze thus attains a height (length) of 36-38 cm in one season. The tapping season is from 15 th March to 15 th November i.e. 8 months. Freshening is given 4 times in a month and thus the total no. of rills is to be limited to 32 in a season. The width of the blaze is 20 cm i.e. 10 cm on either side of the central groove.

4.3.3: APPLICATION OF STIMULANT : The stimulant is a 20 percent solution of a mixture of sulphuric and nitric acids mixed in equal proportion v/v. It should be sprayed on the freshly cut rill by squeezing the plastic bottle and moving its nozzle in a steady motion along the rill. Precaution should be taken to remove the pot till the extra acid has run down the lip. The tendency to apply stimulant more frequently and in higher concentration to obtain higher yield should be curbed since it affects the tree adversely.

4.3.4: TAPPING SEASON : Tapping season extends from 15 th March to 15 th November. Freshening are not made from 16 th November to 30 November and during this period resin is scrapped (Raghod).

4.3.5: USE OF GUIDE : The use of guide with the rill knife by the tapper is compulsory.

4.3.6: INSTALLATION DURING SUBSEQUENT YEARS : For installation during the second year of tapping the position of the blaze is marked above the top of first year blaze and other operations of first year are repeated. After tapping for two years the blaze reaches a height at which it is not possible to pull the freshening knife upwards. Hence during third year freshening is given by pushing the freshening knife upwards (for the central groove towards the outer edge of the blaze). Like this the blasé is extended upwards for four years. During fifth year it may be necessary to use a ladder. During 6 th year or in some cases during 5 th year a new blaze is made at the bottom leaving 7.5 cm wide space from the outer edge of the first year blasé.

CHAPTER-V FORESTRY UNDER VARIOUS FIVE YEAR PLANS 5.1. GENERAL: In the past the forests of the division have been managed for getting sustainable yield through various Working Plans. The silvicultural fellings were mainly aimed at making the forest uniform and the regeneration achieved through natural means. The increasing demands of forest produce in the state especially that of timber and fuel-wood resulted in focus on large scale plantations of commercially important species. Although the plantation programme started from Ist Five Year Plan but it gained momentum from IIIrd Plan onwards.The Plan wise management of forests and expenditure is as under: 5.2. Ist FIVE YEAR PLAN (1951-56):- During Ist Five Year Plan the forests of this division were managed under Romesh’s revised working plan (1950-51 to 1980). The forests of the tract were exploited commercially to meet the timber and fuel-wood requiremets. Chil Shelterwood, , Coppice and Selection working circles were constituted and worked. The Protection and Plantation were created to improve the condition of the growing stock and meet local demand of fuel and fodder. The Chil Shelterwood under “Punjab Shelterwood System” with mainly artificial regeneration. However, in Coppice working circle the silvicultral system adopted was “Coppice with Standard” whereas in Plantation working circle “Clear Felling System” followed by plantation of chil was preferred. The combined figures of revenue and expenditure during Ist Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under Table: 36: Revenue and Expenditure during Ist Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Rs. Surplus/Deficit in Rs. (+)/(-) 1951 -52 NA NA NA 1952 -53 NA NA NA 1953 -54 NA NA NA 1954 -55 NA NA NA 1955 -56 NA NA NA Source: Dehra Forest Division. 5.3. IInd FIVE YEAR PLAN (1956-61):- ):- During I1 Five Year Plan the forests of this division were managed under Romesh’s revised working plan (1950-51 to 1980). The forests of the tract were exploited commercially to meet the timber and fuel-wood requiremets as above.

52 Table: 37. Revenue and Expenditure during IInd Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Rs. Surplus/Deficit in Rs. (+)/(-) 1956 -57 NA NA NA 1957 -58 NA NA NA 1958 -59 NA NA NA 1959 -60 NA NA NA 1960 -61 NA NA NA Source: Dehra Forest Division.

5.4. IIIrd FIVE YEAR PLAN (1961-66):- During this period, the forests of this tract were managed under under Romesh’s revised working plan (1950-51 to 1981-82) as above. The combined figures of revenue and expenditure during IIIrd Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under in Table: Table: 38- Revenue and Expenditure during IIIrd Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Rs. Surplus/Deficit in Rs. (+)/(-) 1961 -62 NA NA NA 1962 -63 NA NA NA 1963 -64 NA NA NA 1964 -65 NA NA NA 1965 -66 NA NA NA Source: Dehra Forest Division. 5.5. IVth FIVE YEAR PLAN (1969-74):- During this period, the Forests this division were managed under MALHOTRA’S REVISED WORKING PLAN (1966-67 TO 1980-81): Even though Romesh Plan was to expire in 1980-81 with the provision for interim revision after I5 years the reorganization of the Division coupled with the desirability of bringing vast Un- delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests under regular management necessitated complete revision of the plan from 1966-67 itself. The revised plan included all the Delimited Protected, Un-delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests of the Divisions, except those under Cooperative Forest Societies. The following WCs were constituted:1.The Chil Shelter wood Working Circle. 2.The Oak Shelter wood Working Circle. 3.The Coppice Working Circle. 4.The Khair (Overlapping) Working Circle. 5.The Plantation Working Circle. 6.The Avenue Working Circle. 7.TheProtectionWorkingCircle.8.TheGrazing(overlapping) Working Circle. The combined figures of revenue and expenditure during IInd Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division. Table: 39-Revenue and Expenditure during IVth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Rs. Surplus/Defici t in Rs. (+)/(-) 1969 -70 3755290* 3189314* (+)565976 1970 -71 3669460* 4206414* [-] 536954 1971 -72 7862581* 5856818* [+] 2005763 1972 -73 3300439* 6832815* (-)3532376 1973 -74 9229613* 6506197* (+)2723416 5.6. Vth FIVE YEAR PLAN (1974-79):- During this period, ):- During this period, the Forests this division were managed under MALHOTRA’S REVISED WORKING PLAN (1966-67 TO 1980-81): The figures of revenue and expenditure during Vth Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under in Table: Table: 40(A)- Revenue and Expenditure during Vth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Rs. Surplus/Deficit in Rs. (+)/(-) Source: 1974 -75 6282050* 7687996* (-)1405946 Baldev 1975 -76 8741329* 5532270* [+] 3209059 Singh `s 1976 -77 3085870* 1862071* [+] 1223799 W.P. of 1977 -78 7610122* 2167884* (+)5442238 Una 1978 -79 8106395* 6934936* (+)1141459 F.D.&

M.P. Singh`s W.P. of Dharamsala F.D. 5.7. VIth FIVE YEAR PLAN (1980-85) : The forests of this tract were managed under M.P.SINGH Working PLAN, (1981-82 TO 1995-96) as applicable to Right bank of the river Beas which comprises the present Jawalamukhi, Nagrota Surian and two blocks of Dehra range (Dehra and Bankhandi) and were worked under following Working Circles:The Chil Shelter Wood Working Circle; The Coppice Working Circle; The Plantation Working Circle; The Protection Working Circle; The Khair (Over lapping) Working Circle & The Wild Life (Over lapping) Working Circle and : Baldev Singh 5 th WP for the Forest of Una and Dehra (Part) Divisions 1981-82 to 1995-96 (Left Bank of River Beas) comprising of Protection Working Circle, Khair (Over lapping) Working Circle ,the Chil Shelter Wood Working Circle . The figures of revenue and expenditure during VIth Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under in Table: Table: 40(B) Revenue and Expenditure during VIth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Rs. Surplus/Deficit in Source: Rs. (+)/(-) Baldev 1980 -81 11303953* 4272242* (+) Singh `s 1981 -82 4642692* 3338619* (+) W.P. of 1982 -83 NA NA NA Una 1983 -84 NA NA NA F.D.& 1984 -85 NA NA NA M.P. Singh`s W.P. of Dharamsala F.D. 5.8. VIIth FIVE YEAR PLAN (1985-90): - During this period, the forests of this tract were managed under under managed under M.P.SINGH Working PLAN, (1981-82 TO 1995-96) and

54 Baldev Singh 5 th WP for the Forest of Una and Dehra (Part) Divisions 1981-82 to 1995-96 as above. The social forestry works were in full swing, main emphasis being on raising fuel, fodder, small timber and grasses to meet the increasing domestic needs of rural communities. The figures of revenue and expenditure during VIIth Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under in Table: Table:40(C)- Revenue and Expenditure during VIIth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Surplus/Deficit in Source: Rs. Rs. (+)/(-) HP 1985 -86 NA NA NA FORES 1986 -87 610000 8512000 (-)7902000 T 1987 -88 668000 11333000 (-)10665000 STATI 1988 -89 356000 10750000 (-)10394000 STICS 1989 -90 NA NA NA 1990 5.9. VIII FIVE YEAR PLAN (1992-97): -) During this period, the forests of this tract were managed under under managed under M.P.SINGH Working PLAN, (1981-82 TO 1995-96) and Baldev Singh 5 th WP for the Forest of Una and Dehra (Part) Divisions 1981-82 to 1995-96 as above . The JFM approach also started in the division and the forestry activities were implemented under departmental schemes. Due to ban on green felling, the objective was

afforesting denuded/degraded forests. The constitution of forest development committees and their participation in planning and implementation was sought. The figures of revenue and expenditure during VIIIth Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under.Table:. 40(D) Revenue and Expenditure during VIIIth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Surplus/Deficit in Source: Rs. Rs. (+)/(-) Dehra 1992 -93 18,000 2,80,74,075 [-] 2,80,56,075 Forest 1993 -94 1,65,107 6,22,00,892 [-] 6,20,35,785 Divisio 1994 -95 4,29,000 57,28,581 [-] 52,99,581 n. 1995 -96 5,41,898 59,92,773 [-] 54,50,875 5.10. 1996 -97 6,18,000 59,97,739 [-] 53,79,739 IXth FIVE YEAR PLAN (1997-2002):- The JFM activities continued in this perod and Due to ban on green felling, the objective was mainly on afforesting denuded/degraded forests. The works of afforestration, soil conservation, entry point activity started by the VFDCs and microplan process learnt and executed. Sanjhi Van Yojna started on the principles of JFPM. Here again the focus remained on restocking/regeneration of degraded forests. The figures of revenue and expenditure during IXth Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under.

55 Table: 40(E)- Revenue and Expenditure during IXth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Surplus/Deficit in Rs. Rs. (+)/(-) Source: 1997 -98 4,99,000 52,44,900 (-) 47,45,900 /- Dehra 1998 -99 5,50,000 68,88,802 (-) 63,38,802/ - Forest 1999 -2000 18,15,447 95,70,326 (-) 77,54,879 /- Divisio 2000 -01 14,56,000 90,60,252 (-) 76,04,253/ - n. 2001 -02 11,13,000 95,17,177 (-) 84,04,177 /- 5.11. Xth FIVE YEAR PLAN (2002-2007): - Both the JFM programmes & SVY created mass awareness about forestry but the focus was again on raising plantations besides soil works and entry point activities other Compensatory Afforestation was also implemented with emphasis on soil, water conservation. Due to ban on green felling only salvage removals has been carried out with focus on planting open and denuded forests. The figures of revenue and expenditure during Xth Five Plan of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under. Table: 40(F) -Revenue and Expenditure during Xth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Surplus/Deficit in Rs. Rs. (+)/(-) Source: 2002 -03 31,38,964 79,04,689 (-) 47,65,725 /- Dehra 2003 -04 10,12,792 49,02,032 (-) 38,89,240 /- Forest 2004 -05 9,72,419 49,54,650 (-) 39,82,231 /- Divisio 2005 -06 53,17,314 1,29,57,138 (-)76,39,824 /- n. 2006 -07 29,18,306 1,20,04,300 (-) 90,85,994 /- 5.12. XIth FIVE YEAR PLAN (2007-2012): - Both the JFM programmes & SVY created mass awareness about forestry but the focus again is on raising plantations/increasing forest cover besides soil

works and other Compensatory Afforestation are being implemented with emphasis on soil, water conservation. Due to ban on green felling only salvage removals has been carried out with focus on planting open and denuded forests. The figures of revenue and expenditure during XIth Five Plan upto 2010-11of Dehra Forest Division are tabulated as under. Table: 40(G)- Revenue and Expenditure during XIth Five Year Plan Year Revenue in Rs. Expenditure in Surplus/Deficit in Source: Rs. Rs. (+)/(-) Dehra 2007 -08 13,03,448 /- 74,36,959 /- (-) 61,33,511 /- Forest 2008 -09 11,71,288 /- 66,37,950 /- (-) 54,66,662 /- Divisio 2009 -10 15,34,339 /- 75,65,850 /- (-) 60,31,511 /- n

*These are combined figures as present Dehra Forest Division was managed under Dharamsala and Una Forest Division prior to 1984.

P.56

CHAPTER - VI STAFF AND LABOUR SUPPLY

6.1: STAFF: Table 41: Position of Staff as on 01 Jan 2012:

Category Sanctioned Existing Shortfall Plan Non Plan Plan Non Plan Plan Non Plan DCF 1 1 0 ACF 2 2 0 FRO 6 1 -5 DR 19 18 -1 FGd 75 61 -14 SUPDT 1 1 0 Sr ASST 3 3 0 CLERK 6 3 -3 KANUNGO 1 1 0 DRIVER 1 1 0 PEON 8 13 5 F.WORKER 30 30 0 MALI 4 4 0 CHOWKIDAR 6 6 0 PEON CUM - CHOWKIDAR 2 0 -2 TIMBER WATCHER 1 1 0 PATWARI 1 0 -1 SWEEPER 1 0 -1 PEON CUM KHALASI 2 0 -2

6.2: In 1978, Dharamsala and Palampur forest divisions were carved out of the erstwhile Kangra Forest Division. Again in June 1984, when Dehra forest division was constituted, part of Jwalamukhi and Nagrota Surian ranges of Dharamshala FD and Dada Siba range of Una forest division were merged to form the new Dehra FD. The present WP thus covers 4 ranges viz Jawalamukhi, Nagrota Surian, Dehra and Dada Siba. The Pong reservoir is separate and under the Wildlife Wing with two ranges at Nagrota Surian and Dhameta.

6.3: There appears to be a chronic problem with both clerical and field staff deployment. Clerical staff has not been recruited for over two decades now, with the result that while there are adequate number of senior assistants, there is a shortage of clerks. This directly affects office working as more often than not, senior assistants are unwilling to do the work of clerks. Also, over the years there has been an exponential increase in paper work at the DFO level. While adequate numbers of computers are now available in the DFO’s office, these are mainly used as expensive typewriters. The clerical staff is not adequately trained to make fuller use of computers. With a few exceptions e-mail is generally not used

for even routine correspondence and hundreds of letters are printed and signed as was done in earlier times. There is thus a dire need to increasingly use the electronic format for correspondence and for regular accounts and tabulation work which is substantial. Many Range offices also have computers, but few have staff / forest guards who can properly operate these.

6.4 : At the field level due to irregular and mass recruitments after gaps of decades, the age structure of forest guards and block officers and range officers has got skewed. The average age of most of these field staff is well over 50 years.

6.5 : There is now a huge network of roads in most divisions. However, in the forest department a typical forest division has only one vehicle, exclusively for the DFO’s use. This places severe restriction on staff mobility and consequently on proper discharge of their duties. One vehicle at the Range level is now absolutely necessary and in lower divisions like Dehra, forest guards and forest workers in many beats can at least be provided with bicycles.

6.2: LABOUR SUPPLY:

Forest exploitation is being done through HPSFC. They get labour from Nepal and J&K. Locally charcoal & fuel wood is generally extracted by the inhabitants of the area from their private land through the local labour. For the other Forestry operations like planting, raising nurseries, seed collection, building, road and path constructions etc. local labour is utilized by the forest department.

Table 42: Daily wage rates changes since 1987 (Rs/day)

Month/year Unskilled labour Driver Clerk 11/1987 16 - - 05/1989 18 - - 06/1989 19 - - 01/1990 20 - - 01/1991 22 - - 12/1993 24 - - 10/1994 26 28 - 04/1995 45.75 62.50 57.95 03/1996 45.75 63.47 63.47 08/1998 51 69.50 65 08/2001 55 75 70.50 08/2002 60 81 76 08/2003 65 88 82.50 08/2005 70 95 89 01/2007 75 102 95.50 01/2008 100 136 127 03/2009 110 150 140 10/2010 120 164 153

CHAPTER VII PAST SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT 7.1: Early History of Guler State: “In its palmy days Guler State extended from Ganesh- Ghati in the east to Reh in the west, and from the Bias in the south to Gangot and Jawali in the north. It has the same limits as the present Dehra tahsil, if Datarpur be added and tappa Gangot excluded. The peculiar circumstances in which it was founded have already been related in the history of Kangra State, and local tradition fully confirms the details of the story. The well into which Hari- Chand fell is still shown. The original name if the State was Gwaliar of which Guler is a derivation, and it is several times referred to under this name in the Mohammedan histories. The name is derived from the word Gopala or Gwala, meaning “a cowherd.” And the tradition is that a cowherd pointed out to Hari- Chand the site, where a tiger and a goat were seen drinking water together, as a suitable place for his capital. In keeping with the custom of the time, the cowherd was offered as a sacrifice, and his head buried in the foundation to ensure the stability of the fort. In addition to the Guler Fort at the capital, called Haripur Fort, there were six other forts along the frontiers of the State. These were Mastgarh, Kotla, Nahklanok, Gandharp, Ramgarh and Mangarh. Of these Kotla was the most important. Gwaliar is referred to under that name in the Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi, Tabaqat-i-Akbari, Tarikh- i-Daudi, and the Akbarnamah ; there is also a chronicle of Guler State, called Diliparanjani, which was written during the reign of Dalip Singh, in Vik. 1762 (A.D. 1705). It is in old Hindi verse, and is the chief authority for the history of the State. Raja Hari-Chand is said to have settled first at Harsar where he fell into the well, but soon afterwards moved to Guler or the place now bearing that name. He then founded the Fort of Haripur at the end of a ridge overhanging the Banganga river, one of the most striking and picturesque situations in the Kangra District. It was originally a fortified palace rather than a fortress, which the Sikhs at a later time fortified. The two outer gateways were demolished in 1847, and much destruction was caused by the earthquake of 1905, and it is now in a ruinous condition. Hari-Chand also founded the town of Haripur on the flat below the fort, near the left bank of the Banganaga, and an older town, called Purana Guler, stands on the right bank, where Hari-Chand perhaps resided while the fort was being built. Very little information is available about the early history of the State, after Hari-Chand. Ram- Chand, c. A.D. 1540- Ram-Chand was the fifteenth Raja in direct succession after Hari- Chand, covering a period of about a hundred and twenty years, and giving a reign of only eight years to each. This is much below the general average in the Hill States. During this period there is only one reference to the State in contemporaneous history. This is in the Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi where we read that Prince Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Tughlaq, eldest son of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, being compelled, in A.D. 1388, to flee from Delhi, was pursued as far as Suket and Gwaliar on his way to Nagarkot. Jagdish-Chand, c. A.D. 1570 - The Raja of Guler referred to as Parsuram was doubtless the Ram- Chand of the Vansavali , who is again mentioned at a later date, in connection with the expedition dispatched by Akbar in A.D. 1572, to suppress a revolt in the hills. Rup-Chand, c. A.D. 1610 - Rup-Chand was the most notable of the Guleria Chiefs. He must have succeeded about A.D. 1610, and remained loyal throughout his reign. He took an active

part in the final siege of Kangra Fort in the reign of Jahangir, which surrendered to the Imperial army on Thursday, 1 st Muharram, A.H. 1029 (16 th November 1620 A.D.). In the Tuzuk-i- Jahangiri the following occurs: “As Raja Rup-Chand of Gwaliar had been very active in his service at Kangra, an order was given to the Chief diwans to hand over half of his native place to him in free gift, and the remaining half as a tankhwah (salary) jagir .” The date of this order was Thursday, 26 th Azar, A.H. 1030, corresponding to 7 th December, 1621 A.D., and shortly afterwards he was honoured with the gift of an elephant and a horse and was granted leave to go to his State. Again in A.D.1623-24, Rup Chand of Gwaliar is mentioned among the Amirs who had been appointed to suppress a disturbance raised by Raja Jagat Singh of Nurpur, at the instigation of Prince Khurram (Shahjahan), who was then on bad terms with his father. In the Guler chronicle, already referred to, the bard states that Rup Chand overran the hill districts twenty-two, that is many times, in the service of the Emperor Jahangir, and received the title of Bahadur and khilat and two weapons, still preserved in the family preserved in the family. He was also sent on a military expedition to the Dakhan where he distinguished himself. On his return he was honored with Khilats and permitted to retire to his State. Finally in the same record an account is given of an expedition against Garhwal State, in which Rup Chand bore an honorable part and lost his life. Guler probably came under the control of Ghamand-Chand of Kangra from about 1758, and under the Sikhs at a later date, till 1786, when Raja Sansar-Chand acquired supreme power in the hills. But amid all these changes the Guler State continued to preserve its integrity, except the ilaqa of Kotla, which originally belonged to the State. Kotla ilaqa seems to have been a part of the Imperial demesne formed by Todar-Mal in the reign of Akbar, and the fort was garrisoned with Mughal troops, probably from the same time as Kangra Fort, It is not known when the garrison was evacuated, but in 1785 it was captured by Dhian-Singh, Wazir of Guler, who made himself independent and successfully resisted even Sansar-Chand, in the height of his power. Bhup-Singh, c. A.D. 1790 - Bhup-Singh who came to the gaddi about 1790 was the last ruling Chief of Guler. All the Kangra States were then under the supremacy of Sansar-Chand, and his oppressive measures aroused a spirit of resistances among them. They formed a confederacy against him, and through the Raja of Bilaspur invited the Gurkhas to invade Kangra. Bhup Singh was one of the first to join them with his contingent. On the expulsion of the Gurkhas and the surrender to Kangra Fort to Ranjit-Singh in 1809, all the States of the Kangra group came under his control. For a time he treated Bhup-Singh with respect and called him Baba, but the extinction of the principality was close at hand. In 1811 Ranjit-Singh began to disclose his designs on the Hill States, and Guler was the first to be annexed. In that year Desa Singh Majithia was sent against Kotla Fort and captured it in a week, a jagir being assigned to Wazir Dhian-Singh in the Doab. In 1813 the rest of Guler State was also seized. Mr. Barnes gives the following account of the way in which this was done:- “The plan was skillfully and deliberately laid. The Raja was directed to raise a large force to assist in some operations on the Indus, and when the military strength of the population was drained off and the country lay defenceless, the Raja was summoned to Lahore. On the day that he expected leave to return, he was shamelessly arrested, and told that he would not be alloed to go till he surrendered his kingdom and accepted a jagir. Without waiting for a reply, Desa-Singh was sent off with an army of ten thousand Sikhs, and the territory was quietly annexed to the growing rule of the Khalsa. The Raja was restored to liberty, but spurned the offer of a Jagir . He

had, however, assigned 20,000 rupees during his own incumbency for the support of his female household; and Ranjit-Singh left that maintenance untouched.” These lands still form the Jagir of the family. Bhup-Singh died in 1820 and was succeeded by his son, Shamsher-Singh. In the first Sikh War he raised a force form among his retainers and turned the Sikhs out of Haripur Fort. Shamsher Singh remained loyal during the rising of 1848 and refused to countenance the proceedings of his kinsmen. He died in 1877”. 7.2: Siba State: “Siba State was an offshoot from Guler, as Guler was from Kangra, In the fourth generation after Raja Hari-Chand, as younger brother of the ruling Chief of Guler, named Sibaran-Chand, ,made himself independent in a tract to the south of the Bias, probably about A.D. 1450. There he founded his capital and called it Siba after his own name, and in accordance with ancient custom the name was also applied to the State. Taluqa Siba in the Kangra District at the present time, represents the exact dimensions of the former State. The clan name is Sibaia. There were 25 Rajas in succession after Sibarn-Chand :- Hami-Chand, Pahlad-Chand, Jit- Chand, Udhan-Chand, Autar-Chand, Rup-Chand, Manak-Chand, Nirmodh-Chand, Jap-Chand, Kilas-Chand, Prag-Chand, Sansar-Chand, Narain-Chand, Trilok-Chand, Kishan-Chand, Jai- Chand, Prithi-Chand, Amar-Chand, Jaswant-Singh, Bhag-Singh, Lakel-Singh, Madho-Singh, Sher-Singh, Gobind-Singh, Ram-Singh, giving an average reign of only nine years. Very little is known of its subsequent history, but Siba is mentioned in Jahangir’s memoirs on the occasion of his visit to Kangra in January A.D. 1622. He was accompanied by Nurjahan Begam and her father, Itimad-ud-daula ; and when the Imperial camp was at the Village of Bahlun in Siba the Emperor set out with his personal retinue to visit Kangra Fort, leaving Nurjahan with her father who was seriously ill. On the way a messenger overtook him with a Message that grave symptoms had appeared, and Jahangir atonce retraced his steps and was present at Itimad-ud-daula’s death. He then went on to Kangra, probably by Haripur, and returned by Nurpur. The State seems to have preserved its independence all through the Mughal period under its own Rajas, of whom there were 26 down to the time of its extinction. It was subject to the Sikhs like the other Hill States, and to Sansar-Chand of Kangra from 1786 till the Gurkha invasion in 1806, and the Raja of that time was Gobind-Singh. Availing himself of the disorder then prevailing, Raja Bhup-Singh of Guler, in 1808, invaded Siba and annexed it, It came under Ranjit-Singh along with Guler and the other Hill States in 1809, and ten years later he disjoined it from Guler, and in 1830 restored it to Raja Gobind – Singh. Amid the ruin that befell the other Hill States in Kangra, Siba alone escaped. It is said that Ranjit-Singh had doomed it to destruction, but it was saved owing to the fact the Raja Dhian- Singh, the Minster, had obtained two princesses of the Siba family in marriage, and through his intervention the danger was averted, A tribute of Rs. 1,500 was imposed, and the principal fort had to be surrendered, but the State was left intact, as a jagir. The Territory was then divided between the two cousins, Raja Gobind-Singh and Mian Devi- Singh ; lands worth Rs. 20,000 (subject to tribute ) being assigned to the former and of Rs. 5,000 (taluqa Kotila ) to the latter. Raja Gobind-Singh died in 1845 and was succeeded by his son, Raja Ram- Singh. During the second Sikh War he drove the Sikhs out of Siba Fort, and also ousted his cousin, Bijai-Singh, son of Devi- Singh, from his jagir , but was obliged to restore it. Raja Ram-Singh died without heirs in 1874, and his jagir was re-granted to Bijai-Singh and his heirs-male in perpetuity, subject to an annual tribute of Rs. 1,500. He was followed by Raja Jai-Singh, who died in 1920; and after

him his son, Raja Gajinder-Singh, who died in 1926. Raja Sham-Singh is the present head of the family. The State is generally spoken of as Dada-Siba from the two principal places within its bounds. On 15 th March, 1919 the title of “Raja” was officially conferred on Jai-Singh, Jagirda r of Siba, as a hereditary distinction, by Government”. [Excerpted from THE HISTORY OF THE PUNJAB HILL STATES, ] ] 7.3: Dehra Forests in the Past: “The dehra tahsil may be described in a general way as occupying both sides of the valley of the Bias, from Nadaun in the Kangra district to near Talwara, where the Bias first touches the Hoshiarpur district. North of the Bias the country is much broken up by irregular ranges of hills, the most conspicuous of which is the Kalidhar ridge, which rises to 3,728 feet (1133m). The general direction of these hills is, as in the rest to Kangra proper, from north-west to south-east. To the south of the Bias river the valley is shut in by the Sole Singhi or Jaswan range, and its numerous spurs which spread out and descend from the central ridge, which is between 3,000 and 4,000 feet high, to the Bias river, a distance of about ten miles. The Dehra tahsil includes the jagirs of the Rajas of Goler and Siba on the right and left banks of the Bias river, about ten miles below Dehra. The forests in the Dehra tahsil consist partly of chil (Pinus longifolia), and partly of other trees, such as Kembal (Odina wodier) ; kalam (Stephegyne parvifolia) ; dhau (Anogeissus latifolia) ; jaman (Eugenia jambolanum) ; amaltas or Indian Laburnum (Cassia fistula) ; khair (Acacia catechu) ; bahera (Terminalia bellerica) ; kamal (Mallotus phillipinensis) ; sirin (Albizzia julibrissin) ; kilawa (Wrightia tomentosa) ; keor (Holarrhena antidysenterica) ; bil (Aegle marmelos); amla (Phyllanthus emblica) ; chilla (Casearia tomentosa) ; sanan (Ougeinia dalbergiodes) ; kakran (Pistacia integerrina) ; karal (Bauhinia variegata ); kainth (Feronia elephantum ) ; ambara (Spondias mangifera) ; and a variety of other trees and bushes. There is also a sprinkling of bamboos (Dendrocalamus strictus) in one or two places; but the last mentioned is at its extreme natural limit, and never attains any large size. “In 1875 an agreement was made with certain village communities in the Dehra tahsil whereby they gave Government 48 blocks of forest since declared reserves under Section 34 of the Forest Act, and aggregating 11,067 acres (about 4429 ha) or about 17 square miles, in full proprietary right. Government on their part surrendered the right to close any part of the remaining forest or waste land within the village bounds, and agreed to give the village community a third share of the forest revenue derived there form. The area of unassessed waste lands, including unreserved forest areas and exclusive of roads, nallas, rivers and village sites, is estimated at about 110 square miles. Except where modified by the mutual agreement above mentioned, the rights of Government and of the people in the Dehra forest are very much the same as in Hamirpur, already described, the only difference being that in Dehra, where inferior species of trees abound, chil is not granted, as in Hamirpur free of charge. Chil timber is the principal forest product exported from the Dehra forests, and the mode of sale and extraction is similar to that adopted in Hamirpur except that one or two of the more accessible forests have occasionally been worked by departmental agency. The forests in the jagirs of Goler and Siba, which are composed of chil, bamboos and miscellanies trees, are managed by the Rajas, subject to the control of the Forest Department, Government being also entitled to a certain share in the forest revenue”. (EXTRACT from: THE KANGRA DISTRICT GAZETTEER, 1883).

(Mainly excerpted from MP Singh’s WP, 1980-81 to 1995-96)

7.4: GENERAL HISTORY OF THE FORESTS: Before the tract ceded to the British on 9 th March in 1846, the forests were the property of the local ruler where definite rules for forest management existed. On the advent of British rule, the forests were placed under the control of Deputy Commissioner, who managed them according to the rules embodied in the village administration papers of the Land Revenue Settlement by Barnes (1849-52). These Rules, a mere re-iteration of ancient practice, were modified by Bailey in 1853 which in 1859 were replaced by local Rules applied under the authority of the “Rules for the Conservancy of Forests in the Hill tracts of Punjab” promulgated by Govt. of India in 1855. In 1870, as a preliminary to the constitution of reserved forests on the principles followed in Hoshiarpur district, Dehra tehsil forests were placed under the control of the Forest Department. Reserves in Dehra tehsil were notified in 1879 vide Notification No. 111-F dated 6 th March, 1879. 6 blocks of forests in Dada-siba jagir were demarcated during Barnes Settlement (1848) and the draft notification was prepared. Simultaneously, the provisions of Chapter-IV of the IFA, 1878 to all wastelands, demarcated and un-demarcated were also proposed to be applied. The notification, however, could not be issued till Sheep Shank was deputed as Forest Settlement Officer, who submitted his report in 1913 and Notification No 2839-A to 2839-E all of 31 st August 1915 were finally issued. 7.4.1: The year 1878 saw the introduction of Indian Forest Act for the first time where upon regular Forest Settlement commenced in 1883. The forests of the tract were placed under the control of Forest Department in 1894. After promulgation of Anderson’s Forest Settlement in 1897, the first Working Plan was compiled by Hart (1903-04 to 1921- 22). 7.4.2: In 1909 the Govt. of India drew attention of Punjab Govt. to the unsatisfactory condition of most the Protected Forests, the ever increasing demand of right holders, the excessive sheep and goat grazing etc and directed for taking remedial measures for preventing forests from permanent damage. This resulted in the imposition of “Cattle Tax”, enhancement in gaddi grazing fee, a scheme of Rotational Closure of the forests and creation of two forest authorities in the district in the year 1920. The Delimited Protected Forest covered by the scheme of Rotational Closure remained under the charge of Forest Department while the remaining forests were again placed under the control of Deputy Commissioner, who employed separate staff for their protection and management. A revised working plan for the management o forests under the control of Forest Department was prepared by Walters (1920-21 to 1929-30). However, in 1924 the Punjab Legislative Council refused to provide funds to the establishment. As a result the Forest Department resumed charge of these forests also. 7.4.3: The Dharamshala Municipa1 Forests were constituted in 1867, when forests of mauza Kareri and Dharamshla were transferred to the charge of Dharamshala Municipality as grant-in- aid; with the stipulation that no octroi will be imposed, with the objective of helping the poor. Assisted by a few Rakhas, the Kotwal managed these forests up to 1894. As a sequel to the condemnation of the arrangement in Anderson’s Settlement Report, the management of these forests was transferred to work the forests most economically and pay the net revenue to the Municipality. In 1902 Blaschek prepared a scheme of felling for 20 years, which was not acted

upon till 1913. These forests were first brought under regular management in the Walter’s revised Working Plan from 1920 along with other forests. 7.4.4 : For saving Dharamshala town from serious landslips and erosion, the area above the town acquired in 1914 and declared as Reserved Forest. The first working scheme for the Reserved Forest, (Reserved Banal) was prepared for five years from 1915 to 1920. The second working scheme was prepared by Budhi Singh (1922 to 1933). A revised working scheme from 1933 to 1938 was prepared by David followed by the revised working scheme of Aggarwal (1942 to 1951). The last revised working scheme was prepared by Romesh (1952-53 to 1961-62) where after the forests were incorporated in the main revised working plan of Kangra Forest Division by Malhotra (1966-67 to 1980-81). 7.4.5: The working scheme for Kangra Municipal Forest, by Agya Ram (1960-61 to 1974-75) was prepared in pursuance of Punjab Govt. letter No. 1427-.Ft-57/12O3 dated 20.5.1957, transferring an area of 42.90 ha on certain conditions. 7.4.6: The Railway Strip’s Working Plan from 1953-54 to 1974-75 was prepared by Swam Singh which dealt with the side strips of the 52 kilometer railway tract of Pathankot- Jogindernagar section falling within the then Kangra Forest Division. 7.4.7: From 1931-32 to 1950-51 the forests were managed under Mohan’s Revised Working Plan for Kangra Forest Division. This Working Plan dealt with only the Delimited Protected and some more important Un-classed Forests. Mohan’s Plan was followed by Revised Working Plan (1951-52 to 1980-81) prepared by Romesh which also dealt with only the Delimited Protected and some Un-classed Forests of the main valley. Some forests of the main valley were transferred to the Cooperative Forests Societies for management during 1941 and separate Working Plans were compiled for each society followed by an Integrated Working Plan for the district by Rawal (1968-69 to 1982-83). An intermediate revision of Romesh Plan was carried out by Malhotra (1966-67 to 1980-81) which dealt with all the Delimited Protected, Un- delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests of the Kangra Forest Division. 7.8: PAST SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT AND THEIR RESULTS: The period between 1846 and 1980-81 can be divided into threé distinct periods from the management stand point. (i) The Period of Organization (1846-1894) : The forests remained under the charge and management of the Deputy Commissioner and forest estates were Consolidated and Demarcated. (ii) The Period of Transition (1894 to 1903) various categories of forests were constituted and notified under the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1878. (iii) The Period of Scientific Management (1903-04 to 1980-81): The forests were managed under Regular Working Plans. The systems of management adopted during each period are described below:

7.8.1: The Period of Organization (1846 to 1894): This period is very significant from the point of view of Consolidation and Demarcation of the forest estates. The forests were managed by the Deputy Commissioner on principles of simple Forest Conservancy Rules. The Conservancy Rules contained in Barne’s Land Revenue settlement (1849-52) asserted the exclusive right of the Govt. to sell timber, prohibited cutting of green wood for fuel and made an order of the village head-man necessary, before felling of trees for building purposes. The laxity of the system, however, failed to protect the forests from

misuse. These rules were modified by Bailey in 1853. Bailey’s Code of Rules provided for a more stringent system of forest conservancy; the divisions of all forest lands into three more or less equal parts to be closed in rotation for 3 or more years (i.e. trihai, the name still in use for a closed area whether 1/3 or not); for better control in the open area; for prohibition of grass- burning in winter and extension of cultivation without permission and for the appointment of Forest Assistants (Ban-Wazirs) in each paragana. In 1855 the “General Rules for Forest Conservancy in Punjab Hill Tracts” were introduced and under its provisions Colonel Lake, the then Commissioner made certain amendments to BaiIey’s Rules which were sanctioned by TA-Governor in 1859. These rules necessitated for Zamindars to apply to the Tehsildar for all the timber requirements for building or agricultural purposes and to pay a nominal fee for the same instead of getting it free by applying to the village head- man. On the other hand the 1/4 share in the value of the timber sold annually by the Govt. was to be awarded to the village officials and the village community; with the objective of securing their interest and cooperation in forest conservancy. These two measures laid the foundation of what are now called the grant of trees at Z-rate and the distribution of Z-share. In 1859 and 1860, the trihais in each mauza were delineated and closed to exercise of rights. Only the first trihai was marked on the ground but no arrangement was made to close the remaining area in rotation as was the original conception. During Anderson’s Settlement the original trihais were further notified in 1897 for 20 years closure and thus majority of areas closed in 1860 remained closed up to 1917, i.e. for a period of 57 years. The effect of this long closure was extremely beneficial. Adequate chil regeneration was obtained which now forms the mature crop. The rest of the forests being inadequately protected and subjected to increased pressure of rights for longer periods, deteriorated immensely; so much so that many of them reached the level of extinction. As regards commercial felling, the chil trees were sold to the traders by Deputy Commissioner at a fixed rate of Rs. 8/- per tree. Logically only sound trees of large dimensions and from accessible localities were rapidly removed. In case of oak and fir also the traders obtained permits at fixed rates irrespective of the size of trees and thus only the best and mature trees from accessible areas were removed. However, since the demand was not heavy and young and middle aged trees were not touched the, results were not as injurious as one would expect under the circumstances. 7.8.2: The Period of Transition (1894 to 1903): The management of Forests was transferred to the Forest Department in 1894. The Forest Settlements were completed and various categories of forests were constituted and notified under Indian Forest Act. The old system of management continued more or less unchanged. However, a system of Improvement Felling bearing on all classes in accordance with the silvi cultural requirements of the crop, was introduced in chil forests.

7.8.3: The Period of Scientific Management (1903-04 to 1980-81): During this period most of the forests were managed under successive Regular Working Plans. These are discussed below: 7.8.4: HART’S WORKING PLAN (1903-04 TO 1920): The main objects of management were to bring the whole workable area under regular treatment, to provide for realization of sustained annual yie1d; primarily for the satisfaction of

the legitimate requirements of right holders and the surplus if any, to be sold. A total area of 46,708 ha (including areas presently in Una, Hamirpur and Palampur Forest Divisions) was considered workable and dealt with accordingly. Seven Working Circles were constituted. 7.9.1: The Pine Working Circle: A system of “Improvement felling and thinning” was prescribed on a felling cycle of 20 years. Each tehsil constituted one felling series. Exploitable girth of 2m corresponding to 90 years of age was fixed. Felling was in arrears till the middle of the plan. The position improved subsequently when traders were allowed to fell large sized trees. This resulted in removal of trees of higher classes from all over the area but dense young crop in need of thinning was left untouched. The position somewhat improved when special thinning were made by marking trees to right holders. 7.9.2: The Scrub Working Circle: A system of “Coppice with Standards” with a rotation of 20 years was prescribed, 25 standards per acre were retained. As practically there was no demand, no definite sequence of felling was thus laid down. In 1907 however, some demand arose when some trihais were worked wholly or partly. 7.9.3: The Oak Working Circle: A system of “Coppice with Standards” on a rotation of 25 years was prescribed. 25 standards of oak and 50 of sal were to be retained per acre. DP Dhalun was worked, but DP Andhretta and Kandhari & Trihais of Palampur tehsil were not at all touched. 7.9.4: Other Working Circles: These were worked on “Selection System”. In oak high Forest Working Circle and the Fir Working Circle no felling took place for want of demand. In Deodar Working Circle due to limited demand only 66% of the selection trees were removed. 7.9.5: Results: On the whole the Results of Hart’s Working Plan was satisfactory. Many of the prescriptions could not be carried out due to lack of demand. The chil forest improved by thinning and by the removal of over mature stock, generally of poor quality. Hart’s Working Plan did not actually expire till 1922-23 but poor progress of chil regeneration and introduction of scheme of Rotational Closure made its early revision imperative. 7.10: SCHEME OF ROTATIONAL CLOSURE BY MITCHELL AND WALTER (1919): The back ground of the scheme has been dealt in para 31 above. The details of the scheme are to be found in the special report submitted to the Govt. by Mitchell and Walters in 1919 (Report on delineation of areas to be subjected to scheme of Rotational Closure in Kangra proper). The Delimited Protected Forests (subjected to the scheme) were divided into a number of closure series. Each Closure series in chil, oak and fir forests was divided into 4 parts to be closed in rotation for 30 years while in case of scrub forests each closure Series was divided into 3 parts to be closed in rotation up to 10 years. The first closures were marked on the ground and sequence of other closures was shown on the maps and kept in a bound register called the English register. The internal boundaries of the closures, though subject to slight modification in particular cases, are binding. The sequence of closure is at choice only in cases where the Zamindars exercising rights in the closure series in question are unaffected by closures in other series. However, in the case of and forests of chakban tikas of Boh, Drini, Kareri ,Dharamshala and Khaniayara the conditions were to be exceptional. They contained vast areas above tree

line in the form of Alpine pastures. Therefore no general delimitation separating such area from the workable forests was undertaken and also in order to avoid distrust only the first closure delineated on the ground. 7.10. 1: The Govt. accepted the scheme in 1921 and ordered that in every case where the closure of more than 1/3 of scrub forest and 1/4 of other forest was contemplated, the Commissioner should satisfy himself that the areas left open were adequate to the use of the people. 7.10.2: Results: The Rotational Closure Scheme provided satisfactory solution to the problem of selection and notification of closures so far as the Delimited Protected Forests were concerned, but at the same time it increased the risk of destruction of forest not included in the delimitation. In terms of forest management the scheme in case of high forest resulted in a system of fixed periodic blocks with regeneration period and rotation of 30 and 120 years respectively. In case of scrub forests in fact 10 years closure was considered sufficient, which in fact was not justified. 7.11: WALTERS REVISED WORKING PLAN (1920-21 TO 1929-30): It dealt with Reserved and Delimited Protected Forests and made general provision for 89.675 ha of Un-delimited Protected Forests. Hart’s Oak Working Circle and Scrub Working Circles were included under one Coppice Working Circle, the Deodar and Fir, Working Circles were amalgamated into one Circle and named Unworkable Scrub Working Circle comprising of unworkable Delimited Protected Forests. The objects of management in all the high forests were replacement of the irregular crop by even aged crops normally spread over 4 age classes, maintenance of trees of all age classes in each block of forest forming a complete closure series for the satisfaction of rights, realization of maximum sustained yield and of maximum revenue from the surplus yield after meeting the demands of right holders. The results of management were: 7.11.1: The Kangra Pine Working Circle: Uniform system with artificial regeneration was prescribed. The first closure of each closure series was allotted to PBI. Subsidiary felling with the aim of removing over mature trees standing over pole crop along with removal of other trees in accordance with silvicultural principles were prescribed in the other PBs. Only 50% of PBI area was subjected to regeneration felling while only about 25% of the felled area could be regenerated. Most of the regeneration was obtained by natural means.

7.11.2: The Coppice Working Circle: The system adopted was “Coppice with Standard’ and sowing was prescribed to be carried out irrespective of the area having been felled or not. There being no demand for the produce, a large number of forests could not be worked and the prescriptions remained in arrears. 7.11.3: The Unworkable Working Circle: This Working Circle included the Unworkable Delimited Protected Forests, all Un-delimited Protected Forests for which no system of working could be proposed and the Alpine pastures which could not be closed. Almost the entire area proposed for closure under Rotational Closure scheme was closed and the results were beneficial. The rest of the areas were open to exercise of rights as they continued to deteriorate.

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7.11.4: The felling remained in arrears for want of demand and other related reasons discussed below: (a) The plan was prepared during the trade boom of world war-I and the boom was expected to continue, but things proved to be wrong and there was a slump in the market hence lack of demand for the forest produce. (b) The uniform system was applied to all high forests without regard to terrain, crop density and ecological status of the vegetation. The wholesale application of uniform system coupled with the factor that many forests were already so open that regeneration felling was not needed, resulted in prescription of yield which was beyond the actual capacity of the forests. The data relating to increment was also not sound and therefore a high increment (over 100% in 30 years in case of Kangra Pine Working Circle) was adopted. No deduction for the volume of mother trees was discounted. All these led to fixation of much higher yield. (c) Soon after the plan came into effect a wide spread conflagration broke out in 1921, which not only adversely affected pace of young regeneration in low hills but also burnt a large number of trees which had been relied upon for much of the increment. 7.12: MOHAN’S REVISED WORKING PLAN (1931-32 TO 1950-51): The plan dealt with all Delimited Protected Forests and some important Un-classed Forests. The results of working of the plan were: 7.12.1: The Chil Shelter Wood Working Circle: This Circle was comprised of better stocked chil forests of Walter’s Kangra Pine Working Circle excluding some areas on account of poor stocking and precipitous terrain. Two felling series viz. I and II were created. In felling series I surplus timber was to be sold to the traders while felling series II was kept to meet the local demand. The silvi culture system was shelter wood with fixed PBs, natural regeneration to be supplemented where required, by sowings. Regeneration period and rotation were kept at 30 years and 120 years respectively in keeping with the scheme of the plan came into effect regeneration period of 10 years had already expired, hence regeneration of all PBI areas had to completed within the next 20 years i.e. up to 1950-51. Mohan prescribed closure of all PBI areas at once for 20 years without waiting for seeding felling presumably on the erroneous view that chil in the tract did not require heavy opening for inducing regeneration and that only 25% of the area had been regenerated in Walters Plan. About 80% of PBI area was un-regenerated. Most of the un-regenerated areas were in the unstable sub type and being invaded by scrub. Fires also added to the difficulty of obtaining regeneration. The yield in PBI was in excess by about 17% at the end of the plan. The excess was essentially due to conservative estimates of yield (two I class trees were prescribed to be left in PSI as fire insurance at the end of regeneration period) and the forest fires which necessitated removal of burnt tree. However the general condition of PBI areas was fairly satisfactory and the excess yield had not exhausted the growing stock. No felling was prescribed in PB II In PB III and IV thinning and improvement felling on very conservative lines were prescribed, yield was to be controlled by area. In a number of forests thinning could not be done due to lack of demand and also because of prescribed “tikawar” system of thinning that required thinning of 1/10 of forest in each tika annually which was found to be impracticable. However, due to heavy demand of chil poles in World War-II, all the arrear felling were made up. The results were satisfactory on the whole.

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7.12.2: The Coppice Working Circle: The forests allotted to this Working Circle were mostly scrub type. Two felling series Merchantable and Un-merchantable were created with the provision of transferring areas from the later to the former in case of subsequent demand. The system prescribed was “Coppice with Standed.” About 50-75 standards per ha were to be retained. Rotation of was fairly satisfactory and the excess yield had not exhausted the growing stock. 30 years for coppice and of 90 years for standards, keeping the Rotational Closure Scheme in view, was fixed. The yield was prescribed by area. There was a steady demand for firewood during the period especially due to outbreak of World War-II and establishment of Yol and other camps in the valley. The felling was therefore carried out as prescribed except in a few far flung areas. The felling resulted in vigorous coppice shoots but regeneration by seed was generally lacking. On the whole the prescriptions worked satisfactorily for this Working Circle. 7.12.3: The Selection Working Circle: Forests generally situated on precipitous slopes and those which could not be close due to legal problems were allotted to this Working Circle. Three felling series viz. (i) Merchantable consisting of Workable areas (ii) Un-merchantable comprised of areas considered Un-workable for want of demand and (iii) Un-classed, consisting of Un-classed Forests of the Circle where closure could not be enforced without consent of the right holders. The system prescribed was “Selection System” combined with thinning with felling cycle of 10 years. The yield for the first and third felling series was prescribed by number of trees for the whole plan period instead of annual. About 50% of the I class trees prescribed for felling were removed. The deficit was however, due to lack of demand. In the areas closed to grazing good amount of regeneration was obtained while in others it was completely absent. 7.12.4: The Protection Working Circle: This Circle comprised of heterogenous mixture of species in all categories of forests. Four felling series viz. (i) Reserved Felling series comprising of Reserved Forests (ii) Tricennial (iii) Decennial Closure felling series comprising of Delimited Protected Forest according to the closure period of 30 and 10 years respectively and (iv) Un-classed Felling series consisting of the Un-classed Forests were constituted. The main object of management was protection against erosion and denudation. The Closure were prescribed in accordance with legal status of the forests and the provisions of the Settlement. No felling and thinning were prescribed. Extensive chil sowings were prescribe but could be carried out only on a limited scale. Chil regeneration established itself in favourable localities while in other areas there was an increase in the proportion of scrub. The object of forming this Circle was very well achieved; the blanks were covered with vegetation of one type or the other. The process of erosion was checked and the general condition of soil improved considerably. 7.12.5: Summary of Results of Mohan’s Plan: The prescriptions and suggestions of various Working Circles were almost fully implemented. Shelter wood System introduced by Walter in 1921 and continued in this plan for Chil and Oak, proved suitable. In all working Circles natural regeneration was adequate and fairly good, artificial regeneration was also obtained. The demands of right holders were fully met with. Felling except in Chil Shelter wood Working Circle, were only slightly behind the schedule and proved beneficial to the crop. A large number of buildings, roads and bridle paths were constructed. Deodar was artificially introduced though on a limited scale, in

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comptt 3 of D.P. Dharmkot, DP Chakbar. Kareri comptt 5, P. 42. K Leondnal comptt I. It has done very well in case of D.P. Dharmkot and Chakban Kareri while in Leondnal it has failed. 7.13: REVISED WORKING PLAN BY ROMESH (1950-51 TO 1980): All the delimited Protected and some important and valuable Un-classed Forests except those transferred to Kangra Cooperative Forest Societies were dealt with in this plan. For Kangra Forest Cooperative Societies separate working plan, as discussed below was prepared. The different Working Circles are discussed as under 7.13.1: The Chil Shelter wood Working Plan: This Working Circle contained better stocked and economically more important chil forests. In addition to the forests of Chil Working Circle of Mohan’s Plan some chil areas of Protection Working Circle considered better stocked were also included. The Silviculture System adopted was “The Punjab Shelter wood System” with reliance placed on natural regeneration supplemented by artificial means at lower elevations. Rotation of 120 years and regeneration period of 30 years in keeping with the scheme of Rotational Closure was followed. The first period of closure commencing in 1921 had expired on 31 March 1951 and the second period of 3 years, started on 1st April, 1951, the regeneration was to be completed in all PB I areas by 31st March, 1981. Most of the PB I areas were closed in 1951. The control of yield was by volume. Seeding felling was to be completed within the first 10 years, of the Plan. No sequence of felling was, however, laid down. During the period 1951-52 to 1965-66 when this plan was revised by Malhotra, an area of 943 ha against a total prescribed area of 1622 ha (for the entire tract dealt with in the plan); that is about 60% was felled, whereas excess yield of 3668 m 3 against a total of 54,600 m 3 (for 15 years) that is about 7% of the totá1 was removed. Out of 2230 ha PB I area only 259 ha could be regenerated fully and 140 ha moderately. In the remaining area regeneration did not keep pace with felling. No felling was to be done in PB II. In PB III only thinning was to be done and in PB IV felling of the remaining seed bearers along with cleaning and thinning were to be carried out. Both these operations, however, remained in arrears.

7.13.2: The Coppice Working Circle: This Working Circle comprised of fully stocked, better type scrub forests. This Working Circle was same as in Mohan’s Plan except that few better areas protection. Working Circle which had improved were also include The silviculture system continued to be “Coppice with Standard” retaining 50 standards per ha Coppice rotation was 30 years and for standards it was 90 years. Yield was prescribed by area, being 1/10 of each closure series. 7.13.3: Each compartment was divided into 10 coupes which caused much difficulty in correct demarcation of annual coupes on the ground resulting in complaints from the purchasers. Closure and regeneration of such small coupes was also a problem. Felling could not take place as contemplated due to coupes not being sold for their size being too small. About 80% of the prescribed area was felled. Eucalyptus introduced in the felled areas proved initially successful but lagging in height and diameter growth later on, resulting in discontinuation of eucalyptus planting from 1966 - 67 onwards.

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7.13.4: The Selection Working Circle:

This Working Circle was comprised of Delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests situated on steep and broken grounds containing an irregular crop of heterogeneous mixture of various species. The silvi culture system adopted was “Selection System” combined with thinning. Exploitable diameter was kept at 60 cm dbh for all species. A felling cycle of 10 years was kept. Reliance was essentially on natural regeneration. The yield was prescribed by forest for the entire plan period and was 33% of selection tress (I class trees). Felling of trees below 60 cm dbh was controlled by felling rules but no yield was prescribed from such trees.

Almost all the areas due for felling up to 1965- 66 were gone over and the crop improved markedly. However, the regeneration did not come up as expected for want of closure.

7.13.5: The Protection Working Circle:

This Working Circle included those Delimited and Un-classed Forests in which the object of management was simple protection for checking their steady deterioration and to improve the condition of growing stock The vegetation included all sorts of species like chil, oak, fir, spruce etc. along

with alpine and sub alpine pastures. Density of the crop without doubt was very poor, blanks most common and the ground was precipitous with frequent landslips. Like in Mohan’s Plan 4 felling series were constituted. No specific silviculture system was followed. No felling consequently was prescribed except for meeting the demand of right holders. The trees to right holders were to be marked on very conservative selection felling and thinning. Artificial regeneration of chil, khair, shisham, oak etc. was prescribed for suitable sites. The areas were in fact merely closed where little efforts at artificial regeneration were made. From 1962-63 to 1965-66 some suitable areas were planted with eucalyptus after clear felling. The growth and development of eucalyptus having not been found satisfactory, further attempts of eucalyptus planting were abandoned. 7.13.6: The Plantation Working Circle: This Working Circle was created in 1965-66. A felling and plantation programme was drawn up. The forests allotted to this Circle were to be worked on “Clear felling System” followed by plantation of chil, khair, bamboo, eucalvptus etc depending upon the soil and other factors of the locality. The allotment of areas to this Working Circle, was done haphazardly ignoring site conditions. Some areas of Protection Working Circle, though unfit for clear felling were also allotted to this Circle. Stress was laid on eucalyptus planting which generally was not suitable for the tract on account of shallow soil and very deep water table.

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7.14: MALHOTRA’S REVISED WORKING PLAN (1966-67 TO 1980-81): Even though Romesh Plan was to expire in 1980-81 with the provision for interim revision after I5 years the reorganization of the Division coupled with the desirability of bringing vast Un- delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests under regular management necessitated complete revision of the plan from 1966-67 itself. The revised plan included all the Delimited Protected, Un-delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests of the Divisions, except those under Cooperative Forest Societies. The following WCs were constituted: 1. The Chil Shelter wood Working Circle. 2. The Oak Shelter wood Working Circle. 3. The Coppice Working Circle. 4. The Khair (Overlapping) Working Circle. 5. The Plantation Working Circle. 6. The Avenue Working Circle. 7. The Protection Working Circle. 8. The Grazing (overlapping) Working Circle. The discussions here below are confined to forest areas falling in Dharamshala and Dehra (Part) Forest Divisions, and the data has accordingly been presented. However, in some cases it was felt appropriate not to split the figures and to present them in totality for the erstwhile Kangra Forest Division as a whole dealt with under Malhotra Plan. 7.14.1: Excepting oak, Khair (Overlapping) and Coppice Working Circles the remaining Working Circles were divided into two felling series. Felling series I (Legal Closure felling series) covered Reserved and Delimited Protected Forests whereas Felling series II (voluntary closure Felling series) comprised of Un-delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests. Critical appraisal by Working Circles is discussed below: 7.14.2: The Chil Shelter Wood Working Circle: An area of 14680.58 ha under all the 4 classes of forests of the Divisions was on the whole under stocked, irregular, poor in growth and burdened with rights of users. The Un-delimited Protected and Un-classed Forests brought under regular management for the first time, had been in bad shape in the past. The area under felling series I was 6155.53 ha and 8525.25 ha in felling series II. The main object of management was to convert the irregular chil forests into more or less regular crop. Complete enumeration of chil in PB I of felling Series I and Felling Series II was done. The average growing stock per ha was 64.52 m3/ha in felling series I and 51.59 m3/ha in felling series II. The forests were to be managed under “Punjab Shelter wood System” with natural regeneration to be supplemented by planting where ever needed. Compact groups (density not less than 0.5) of well grown poles up to 35 cm dbh of at least 0.2 ha in extent were to be retained as advance growth. Rotation of 120 years and regeneration period of 30 years was adopted. In felling series I, allotment to all the 4 P.Bs. was made while in felling series II only the PBI area were specifically allotted and the rest were grouped together under PB Others. Only two regeneration felling, viz seeding and final felling were to be carried out when the regeneration was at least 2m high and the area control-burnt twice. In case of PB II no felling except for the removal of fallen, dead and dry trees was prescribed. In PB III thinning and in PB

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IV removal of remaining over wood along with thinning in the congested groups was prescribed. The yield was prescribed by volume and calculated separately for PB I and PB I V of each felling series. The control of thinning in PB III and PB IV was by area. PB Others of felling series II was meant only to meet the right holders demand and thus no yield was prescribed. Yield from P.B. was calculated by deduction from the existing growing stock of the trees of 20 cm dbh and up the volume of seed bearers and advance growth to be retained as part of the future crop. Though annual yield was calculated, no annual control was to be exercised at the end of the plan. All trees of IV class and above from PB I and all trees III class and above removed under salvage felling in PB II were to count against the yield of FS-I. Sequence of seeding felling and final felling (for Felling Series I) were prescribed. Main yield from PB IV was calculated on the basis of percentage of I and II class trees available for felling. 7.14.2.1: Results of Working: The position of yield in each P.B. as on 31.3.1981 including the present Palampur FD is as under: Periodic Block Excess/Deficit(m3) I (+)24,833 II (+)5,754 III (-)411 IV (-) 17 7.14.2.2: In PB I of felling series I, an area of 722.73 ha was prescribed for Seeding/ corrective felling. All the prescribed area was felled. Similarly final felling prescribed over 164.70 ha was duly carried out within the plan period. 7.14.2.3: In the felling series II against an area of 1170.28 ha prescribed in PB I for seeding felling only 102.76 ha was felled and 1067.52 ha remained in arrears because of excess felling under salvage removals.

Table 43: AREAS PRESCRIBED BUT NOT FELLED: U 4 D Khariana C2 7.69 UP149 K Romehar 1 5.67 U 5 D Kandhwar 1 10.52 C14 23.07 U 6 D Tihri 2 33.19 8 44.51 C16 16.19 U 7 D Majhin 26 17.40 U 3 0 Habrol 2 40.06 U I D Bilaspur C4a 55.84 28 18.21 7 20.23 U 2 D Larol 1 12.55 33 30.75 21 25.90 UP 139 K D’sala 9 23.88 UP 137 K Drini I C2 21.45 16b 20.23 UP 98 K Marhun W 8.90 UP 23 K Paid W 22.66 UP 99K Gobarnand 1 25.09 UP 24 K Sehwan 1 16.19 2 17.00 UP 28 K Khola 1 18.62 UP106K Boharkwalu 1 6.07 UP29 K Borusarna 1 46.53 U 8 D Kuthialta 1 46.94 UP 42 K Chulahan 1 12.96 Up 8 D Mhadev 13 51.39 UP 70 Khola . 1 24.28 Up 137 K Drini II 10 52.60 UP 149 K Chari 2 22.66 12 25.90 4 61.50 13 40.06 UP 144 K Sakoh 8 6.07 UP I D Ghalaur 2 25.09 TOTAL 1067.52

Against a prescribed area of 2057.71 ha in PB I in the felling series II, only 990.19 ha area was felled leaving 1067.52 ha un-felled. That means 51.87% of the area remained un-felled, yet there has been a plus deviation of the order of 24,833 m 3.

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7.14.2.4: There is excess removal of about 60% of the total prescribed yield in PB I of both the felling series. It is said that the plus deviation in PB I is mainly for the reasons of heavy salvage removals carried out year after year of the fire burnt, dry, dead, fallen etc trees . To a fair degree this assumption might be correct but not wholly true. It is felt that yield calculations done by Malhotra were not sound and the yield calculated was much on the conservative side, as is discussed hereafter: (i) The annual increment worked out on the basis of increment percent, in felling series I came to 9735 m3 against which yield of only 370m3 was prescribed (2780 m3 for PB I and 1000 m3 for PB IV) and all removals including removals by right holders were to count against this yield. Hence very low yield was prescribed while removals were much heavier. (ii) In accordance with para 90.1 of Malhotra’s Plan, volume of 29 trees ( IA &over/4, IIB/6, IIA/11,III/4, IV/4) had been deducted while calculating yield from PB I felling series I. Comparison of the class-wise trees actually available per ha as obtained from enumeration figures with the number of trees prescribed for retention presents the following picture : Diameter No. of trees prescribed No. of trees actually Class (per ha) available (per ha) IV 4 11.00 III 4 10.93 IIA 11 9.77 IIB 6 7.48 IB 4 4.57

7.14.2.5: From the above table it is inferred that while calculating “YieId” almost all IIA and above trees were retained while only III and IV class trees, after deducting volume of advance growth, were to be felled for realizing the yield. This view is not in keeping with the established principles of seeding felling in PB I. Likewise in felling series II, 25 trees / ha of IIA and above were retained as mother trees. The availability position of average number of trees as worked out on the basis of enumeration data is as under: Class No. of trees actually available (per ha) IV 6.23 III 8.27 IIA 7.25 IIB 5.56 IA 2.35 IB 0.93 IC 0.31 ID 0.17

7.14.2.6: From the above it is clear that only 16.57 trees per ha of IIA and above were available white 25 trees per ha were prescribed for retention and made use of in the calculation of yield. Almost all the IIA and above trees were retained in PB I of felling series I while in PB I felling series II much more number of IIA and above trees were retained as were even not actually available, resulting in removal of only the III and IV class which is a negation of the

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fundamentals. Of seeding felling, even Romesh had prescribed retention of only 15 to 20 trees per ha as seed bears and such is the actual practice in PB I areas. Retention of 25 to 28 trees per ha is much too heavy. Actually retention is made only of IIA trees and sparingly of few IIB trees. Therefore yield as calculated by Malhotra was much too conservative, hence the apparent excess removals. 7.14.2.7: In case of PB II, no felling except for removal of dead, dry fire burnt etc trees was to take place hence no yield was prescribed. The plus deviation is on account of no prescription for this PB yet removal of the above mentioned categories of trees. This has led to depletion of growing stock in PB II and is mainly attributed to the removal of fire burnt trees that dried as a result of the faulty practice of resin tapping. 7.14.2.8: In PB III felling series I against a prescribed area of 1161.63 ha only 663.31 ha was felled under thinning, leaving 498.12 ha un-worked; most probably on account of excess removals elsewhere. The under mentioned are the areas that were prescribed but not felled. P B III AREAs PRESCRIBED BUT NOT FELLED P 39 K Ranital 3f 19.42 3e 14.67 4c 12.95 5d 14.57 P 24 K Lunj 2d 26.71 4d 20.64 p 4 K Sunkanal 2d 17.81 p 44 K CB Dulli Id 43.29 2d 13.35 R 14 D Khalag W 15.78 P 27 K Pathiar 4a 21.04 4b 24.68 P 28 K Mansu ld 7.28 P 51 K Naddi 2a 18.21 3b 32.37 P 43 K Cheli ld 42.08 Kareri 2d 4.05 3d 13.76 4c 12.95 R 3 D Habrol 2a 87.80 3d 29.14 Total 498.12 7.15.1: In PB IV felling series I, against a prescribed area of 1240.10 ha to be gone over in thinning only 844.71 ha was felled leaving 395.39 ha un-felled. There is practically no deviation in the yield from PB IV. The following areas were not felled against the prescriptions:

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Table 44: PB IV AREA PRESCRIBED BUT NOT FELLED: P 14 K CB Dulli 1a 22.50 P 24 K Lunj 1a 22.26 2a 30.25 2a 29.24 P 53 K Kalfun 1a 9.72 P 26 K 4 4.05 Chel ighalian P 45 K 1 73.24 P 43 K Cheli 59 10.93 Borusarna Kareri P 14 K 2a 113.71 P 51 K Naddi 2a 28.83 Pandhwar 5a 19.83 P 13 K Doda 1 12.14 Dwari P 20 K Prgor 1a 16.19 395.39 Kalru

7.15.2: In PB I V felling series II neither felling were prescribed nor were such felling carried out.

7.16: The status of regeneration of PB I areas of felling series I (Legal Closure) at the beginning and also at end of Malhotra’s Plan is as under: Status of Beginning of Pla n End of Plan Regeneration Ha % of Total Ha % of Total 1. Advance growth 102.94 7.44 97.01 7.01 2. Completely 168.15 12.15 513.90 37.14 regenerated 3. Moderately 130.95 9.46 93.32 6.75 regenerated 4. Poorly regenerated 142.60 10.31 136.12 9.84 5. Culturable blanks 798.58 57.72 382.47 28.37 where regeneration operationsare afootandlikely tosucceed. Unculturable 40.35 2.92 150.72 10.89 blanks Total 1382.57 100.00 1387.57 100.00

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7.17: The status of regeneration of PB I areas of felling series II (Voluntary Closure) at the end of Malhotra Plan is as below :

S.No. Status of regeneration At End of Plan Area(ha) % of total 1. Advance growth 2.00 0.11 2. Completely regenerated 200.46 11.29 3. Moderately regenerated 274.71 15.47 4. Poorly regenerated 236.63 13.32 5. Culturable blanks where 817.78 46.04 regeneration operations are afoot and likely to succeed. 6. Un-culturable blanks 244.60 13.71 Total 1776.18 100.00 7.18: From the foregoing illustrations it can be safely realized that there has been a marked improvement in regeneration of PB I areas of felling series I while PB I areas of felling series II have not been satisfactorily regenerated as was contemplated under Malhotra’s plan, essentially on account of non felling of about .91.21% of the prescribed area. Thus in conclusion it can be stated that chil forests can be regenerated provided timely seeding felling are carried out, strict protection against forest fires is ensured and effective closure of regeneration areas is not allowed to be tampered with. Rotation of 120 years and regeneration period of 30 years is well suited for chil management and no change therein is required. 7.19: THE BAN OAK WORKING CIRCLE: It was comprised of workable Ban and Kharsu oak areas in Delimited Protected Forests of Dharamshala Range. The forests were under stocked, badly lopped and overgrazed. The crop was middle aged to mature and deficient in younger age classes. No enumerations were carried out and enumeration figures of Romesh Plan were made use of. 7.19.1: The objects of management were protection and preservation, introduction of valuable species like chill etc on suitable sites for obtaining maximum yield of firewood and charcoal and to meeting needs of the local population for fodder and grazing. The forests were to be managing under Pun jab Shelter wood System with artificial regeneration. Rotation of 120 and regeneration period of 30 years was adopted. PB I and PB I V areas were definitely allotted and the remaining forests were lumped together under P.B. Un-allotted. In PB I, two fellings viz seeding and final fallings were to be done. 25 to 40 trees per ha were to be retained as mother trees. Compact groups of poles of 40 cm dbh and below but not less than 0.2 ha extents were to be retained as part of the future crop. Final fallings were to be carried out when young crop was at least lm in height. 7.19.2: The main yield was calculated in terms of charcoal equivalent. The intermediate yield from PB IV was regulated by area. 16.19 ha of Dharamshala Range were not felled under seeding felling during the plan under revision. The position of yield of PB I as on 31.3.1981 was that it was (-) 22,559.6O qtls. The deficit yield is because more than 50% of the prescribed area remained un-felled.

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7.19.3: In P B IV an area of 252 50 ha was prescribed for felling against which only 110.47 ha area was gone over leaving 142.03 ha as un-felled. Thus about 56% of area remained un-felled obviously for two reasons; firstly for imposition of ban on oak felling clamped by the Govt. and secondly on account of uneconomical working of these forests. 7.19.4: P B IV Areas Prescribed but not Felled: P 40 K CB Karen C3a 104.39 P 41 K Kutharna cl 37.64 142.03 The yield position of P. 13 IV as on 31.3.1981 was (-) 151.91 ha As per sowing/planting programme 284.89 ha was prescribed against which only a very small area was planted with ban, realistic figures not being available. Status of regeneration of PB I areas is given below: Status Area (ha) % of the total area 1. Fully regenerated 121.93 42.80 2. Partially regenerated 26.72 9.38 3. Culturable blanks where 28.23 30.97 Regeneration operations Are afoot and likely to Succeed, 4. Unculturable blanks 48.01 16.86 283.89 100.00

7.19.5: From the above table it is inferred that only less than 50% of the area has been regenerated when regeneration period of 30 years has ended. The reason is lack of sincere efforts on the part of the staff. Provided due protection is given, ban oak regeneration is not a problem as the locality factors do not pose any silvicultural or ecological difficulties and are in fact favourable.

7.20: THE COPPICE WORKING CIRCLE: All the better stocked forest as distinct from scrub areas, were allotted to this Circle. All the areas of this Circle were Reserved and Delimited Protected Forests. The Silviculture System adopted was Copice with Standard where rotation for Standards was kept at 90 years and 30 years for Coppice.

7.20.1: The yield was controlled by area. 40-50 as standards per ha were prescribed for retention for seed production and for yielding timber of higher sizes, economically important species like Dalbergia, Anogeissus, Aibizzia etc were suggested for retention as standards. 649.88 ha area was prescribed for felling during the plan period out of which all the prescribed area was felled. The deviation as on 31.3.1981 was (+) 101.91 ha which is not much on the plus side. Sowing and plantation of khair was suggested over 229.82 ha, of which all the area was planted- up.

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7.20.2: The prescriptions of the Circle have almost been carried out resulting in improvement of crop. The silviculture System adopted has been found suitable and no change therein is warranted. 7.21: THE KHAIR (OVER LAPPING) WORKING CIRCLE: The Circle overlapped khair bearing areas of other Working Circles, in Shahpur, Kangra and Jawalamukhi ranges. The objects were to harvest the mature and over mature stock of khair, to realize maximum revenue and to increase proportion of khair in suitable localities by natural and artificial means. Khair enumerations were done in 5 cm diameter classes. No definite silviculture system was adopted; however, exploitation of khair was prescribed on selection principles. Exploitable diameter was kept at 25 dbh and felling cycle of 15 years was adopted.

7.21.1: For convenience of working, mauza was taken as the annual working unit. Yield was regulated by area and number of khair trees to be removed annually. Annual removal of khair trees was kept at 1000 trees equivalent to 950 m girth, sufficient for running of 4 katha bhatties. 25% variation was permitted provided cumulative excess did not exceed 1000 trees during the plan period. 7.21.2: The deviation on 31.3.1981 was (-) 2399.56 ha except for mauza Darang, Ghalaur, Sadun, Thana, Balol and Khola all the other areas were worked as prescribed. These areas were probably not worked owing to the trees being scattered and uneconomical to work. The non- working of these areas explains the minus deviation satisfactorily. The prescription of the Circle has thus been followed and objects of management set out achieved. No change in the management practice is called for. 7.22: THE PLANTATION WORKING CIRCLE: The areas which were under stocked, stocked with inferior brushwood species or with large culturable blanks were alotted to this Working Circle. The legal and voluntary closure felling series were constituted, as discussed in earlier Circles. The objects of management were to clothe the blank areas and replace inferior scrub forests with economically valuable plantations and to nurse and maintain the existing stock. 7.22.1: The modified clear felling with artificial regeneration was adopted as the silviculture system. About 35-40 standards were to be retained per ha for providing seed, shade and large sized timber etc. no felling of chil unless diseased, dry or wind fallen was to be done. Khair trees below 15 cm dbh were not to be felled. In felling series II, no commercial fallings were prescribed. Here the felling was confined only to meeting the demand of right holders. Bamboo was also prescribed for planting in fertile pockets of the low lying forests. 7.22.2: In felling series I an area of 1105.95 ha was prescribed for felling and planting and 877.48 ha was laid down for closure and planting where no felling were needed. Against these prescriptions except 84.57 ha area which could not be felled, rest was felled and planted up. In felling series II plantation programme for 2211.99 ha was laid down. All the prescribed areas have been planted up with chil, khair and other misc B.L. Spp. In fact the plantation targets laid down have greatly been exceeded. Thus the position of working of the circle has been satisfactory. No change of silviculture system is called for as it has given good results. What is now required is that emphasis should be not only on species like chil and khair but should include other species yielding fodder, fuel, fruit, small timber etc. for catering to the needs of local population.

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7.22.3: Subsidiary silvicultural operations like bush cutting, weeding, cleaning, thinning and other regulations regarding closure and grass cutting were generally carried out as suggested. However, in some chil plantations bush cutting cleaning and pruning were not carried out which resulted in severe damage by forest fires. 7.23: THE AVENUE WORKING CIRCLE: The P.W.D. roadside strips and the strips of land along railway—tracts were allotted to this Working Circle. These strips contained young to mature B.L. trees. The crop was patchy, open and irregular with large blanks. There was hardly any restriction on grazing, lopping, debarking and other damage. One felling series for the P.W.D. road side strips and the other for railway strips were constituted. The growing stock in both the felling series was much lower than the normal. Position of regeneration was unsatisfactory. The main objects of management were to restock the blanks with species valuable from aesthetic and economic considerations. The main species to be planted were Cassia siamea, Jacaranda ovalifolia, Grevillea robusta , Bauhinia variegata , Harsingar,Mango, Gulmohar etc. No definite silvicultural system was prescribed. However, removal of dead, dying, diseased trees causing hindrance to smooth flow of traffic were allowed to be removed. Planting programme for the two series was laid down. 307 km road side strips and 162 km railway strips were prescribed for planting. Other operations like fencing weeding, watering etc. were also prescribed. The work on planting of road side strips and of the railway strips has not been done as prescribed for various administrative and management reasons where only a fraction of the prescribed length was planted up. 7.24: THE PROTECTION WORKING CIRCLE: This Working Circle includes all types of unworkable forests situated on very difficult and precipitous slopes or at other erosion prone sites like banks of nallas and streams. High level pastures and other blank areas where soil is absent or is negligible and no planting works could be done, besides the forests being in-accessible and burdened with rights of grazing were allotted to this Working Circle. Protection of hill sides from denudation and erosion and improvement of the growing stock were the main objectives of management. Like other Working Circles two felling series were constituted. No definite silviculture system was prescribed. Felling to meet the demand of local population was permitted on silvicultural principles; Sowing/planting programme for each felling series was laid down. It was not mandatory for the staff to stick to the areas prescribed and they could take any other area for planting that was not included in the programme or change the sequence of planting. Misc. regulations like closure for planting, regulating of grazing, grass cutting, lopping were also laid down which were only partially implemented. Most of the prescribed areas were closed and planted. The planting programme was mainly laid down for the lower areas i.e. the scrub and chil forests and no treatment for improvement of the crop or restocking of blanks in higher areas of ban, fir spruce and kharsu oak forests was suggested. Irrespective of the crop density, especially in areas of felling series II, almost entire forest compartments were prescribed for planting. Moreover planting of vast chunks was not possible in view of difficulties of large scale closures. However, the prescriptions have generally improved the forests of the circle both in terms of their stabilization in the face of erosion and in bringing green cover to the open sites.

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7.25: THE GRAZING WORKING CIRCLE: This was an over lapping Working Circle divided into 4 zones; (1) Alpine (2) higher Zone (3) Middle Zone (4) Lower Zone. The object of management was to provide grazing and folder for the requirement of right holders. Assessment of the productivity of the grazing lands was done and the detail of cattle population of the local, migratory and nomadic graziers was given. In order to evolve a sound grazing policy measures like (i) revision of the settlement (ii) Conversion of grazing land into ghasnies (iii) increase in grazing fee (iv)planting of fodder species etc was suggested. Against these prescriptions a negligible area was planted with fodder species under the pasture improvement scheme. Besides this, planting of khair and B.L. spp over a small area was also done under plan schemes. The other suggestions could not be implemented. 7.26: FIRE PROTECTION: PB I areas of Chil Shelter wood Working Circle required to be control burnt at least twice, which suggestion has not been implemented resulting in increasing number of forest fires, as is given under para 19.1. 7.27: SPECIAL WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT: A list of forest roads paths with their year of construction has been given as appendix XVI. Many km of bridle path/Inspection path were constructed during the plan period. However, all suggestions regarding constructions of roads and paths have not been implemented probably due to financial or other administrative constraints. 7.28: BUILDINGS: A list of buildings of the year and cost of construction has been given in appendix XVI. The repair and maintenance of old buildings, especially those in remote areas, continued to suffer for want of funds and other administrative reasons. 7.29: FORESTS OF THE COOPERATIVE FOREST SOCIETIES: The forests now with the Cooperative Forest Societies were managed with other Govt. Forests prior to 1941. It was in the year 1941 when the Cooperative Forests Societies were constituted. Before 1967-68 each Cooperative Forest Society had a separate working scheme/working plan as detailed under:

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Table 45: CFSs in Dehra: S Name of CFS. Author of first Author of the second W.P./ No W.P./ Working Sch. Working Sch. 1 Dhalun Sunder Singh (1.4.41 to 31.3.61) E. S. Dass (1.4.51 to 31.3.66) 2 Gharoh Bachan Singh (1.4.46 to 31.3.61) E. S. Dass (1.4.61 to 31.3.76) 3 Ghurkari Arjan Singh (1.4.42 to 31.3.52) E.S.Dass (1.4.52 to 31.3.67) 4 Khaniyara Gurdas Mohan (1.4.45 to ----- 31.3.60) 5. Kholi Gurdas Mohan (1.4.49 to --- 31.3.61) 6. Sarah Jogdhian (1.4.46 to 31.3.61) E. S. Dass (1.4.53 to 31.3.81) 7. Sudhed Bachan Singh (1.4.46 to 31.3.61) Agea Ram (1.4.61 to 31.3 .76) 8. Sidhbari Jogdhian (1.4.49 to 31.3.69) --- 9. Sukar Maqbul Ahmed (1.4.47 to Malik (1.4.65 to 31.3.80) 31.3.62) 10. Thana Jogdhian (1.4.49 to 31.3.59) --- 11. Yol Jogdhian (1.4.49.to 31.3.69) --- 12. Bari Han Singh (1.4.45 to 31.3.60) Agea Ram (1.4.60 to 31.3.75) 13. Danoa Gurdas Mohan (1.4.41 to E.S.Dass (1.4.51 to 31.3.66) 31.3.51) 14. D-Gopipur Gurdas Mohan (1.4.45 to Agea Ram (1.4.60 to 31.3.75) 31.3.60) 15. Erla Gurdas Mohan (1.4.41 to E. S. Dass (1.4.51 to 31.3.69) 31.3.51) 16. Gumber Gurdas Mohan (1.4.44 to Ram Parkash (1.4.45.to 31.3.54) 31.3.69) 17. Haripur Gurdas Mohan (1.4.50 to --- 31.3.70) 18. Muhl Gurdas Mohan (1.4.42 to E.S.Dass (1.4.52 to 31.3.67) 31.3.53) 19. Paisa Ahmed Khan (1.4.44 to 31.3 59) ---- 20. sanot Gurdas Mohan (1.4.45 to Agea Ram (1.4.60. to 31.3.75) 31.3.60) 21. Tatahan Khurd Mohinder Singh (1.4.52 to ---- 31.3.67) 22. Trippal Bachan Singh (1.4.46 to 31.3.61) --- 23. Behnala Sunder Singh (1.4.41 to 31.3.51) E. S. Dass (1.4.51 to 31.3.66) 24. Dobh Bhagwan Singh (1.4.51 to --- 31.3.51) 25. Manjgraon Gurdas Mohan (1.4.49 to --- 31.3.71) 26 Salol Mohinder Singh (1.4.51 to --- 31.3.66)

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27. Shahpur Arjun Singh (1.4.44 to 31.3.69) Agea Ram (1.4.50 to 31.3.74) 28. Jhikli Kothi Maqbul Ahmed (1.4.47 to --- 31.3.62) 29. Jalot Bhagwan Singh (1.4.50 to --- 31.3.65)

7.30: RAWAL’S INTEGRATED WORKING PLAN (1968-69 TO 1982 -83): The first Integrated Working Plan for the Cooperative Societies of Kangra district was compiled by Rawal for the period 1967-68 to 1982-83. There were 29 Cooperative Forest Societies in Dharamshala and Dehra (Part) Forest Division. The following Working Circles were recognized by him: (i) The Chil Working Circle (ii) The Oak Working Circle (iii) The Fuel and Fodder Working Circle (iv) The Coppice with Standards Working Circle(v) The Bamboo Working Circle (vi) The Plantation Working Circle (vii) The Protection Working Circle The working of each circle is discussed below in brief. However, for details, a reference is invited to Rawal’s plan. 7.30.1: Chil Working Circle: An area of 849.74 ha was covered under this Circle of which allotment to each periodic block was as below: PB I PB II PB III PB IV Total 208.39 208.43 180.86 252.06 849.74 The system and the principles of management were generally the same as in the Romesh Plan already discussed save for one salient variation that yields here was regulated by area in place of vo1ume. In this Working Circle against a prescribed area of 571.22 ha, 490.45 ha was felled and only 81.27 ha remained un-worked. Details of area prescribed and felled by periodic block is as below: P.B. Prescribed (ha) Felled (ha) I 132.33 114.12 III 210.39 185.74 IV 229.00 190.59 571.72 490.45 The prescriptions of the plan were thus carried out almost entirely resulting in satisfactory regeneration of PB I areas and improvement in stoking density and condition of the crop in the remaining periodic blocks. The deviation statement of the working circle as on 31.3.1983 remained thus: P.B. Deviation (ha) I (—) 18.21 II Nil III (—) 24.65 IV (—) 38.41

The status of regeneration of PB 1 areas at the end of the plan is as under:

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Sl.No. Status of regeneration At the end of Plan % of total Area 1. Advance growth ------2. Completely regenerated 123.86 56.47 3. Moderately regenerated 37.66 17. 17 4. Poorly regenerated 13.93 6.35 5. Culturable blanks where 24.23 11.05 Regeneration operations are afoot and likely 6. Unculturable blanks 19.64 8.96 Total 219.32 100.00

7.30.2: Ban Oak Working Circle: Some of the comptts of CFS Dhalun, Shahpur, Sudhed, Khaniyara, Yol and Manjgraon were allotted to this circle. The Indian Irregular Shelterwood System with artificial regeneration was adopted. In suitable areas deodar was suggested to be introduced by planting. Rotation of 120 years and regeneration period of 30 years was adopted. As no enumerations were carried out, the yield was controlled by area. In seeding felling of PB I areas, 40-50 seed bearers per ha above 40 cm dbh were to be retained. No programme for sowing/planting was laid down. The area allotted to the Working Circle was 242.37 ha (212.84 ha in Dharamshala Range and 29.53 ha in Shahpur Range). Definite allotment to PB I and PB IV were made while the forests were grouped together and allotted to P.B. Unallotted. The area figures for the three P.B. were: P.B. Dharamshala range Range Shahpur Total PB I 63.13 6.07 69.20 PB I V 43.70 7.28 50.98 P.B. 106.01 16.18 122.19 Unallotted 912.84 29.53 242.37

Against an area of 105.20 ha prescribed for felling; 94.28 ha were worked, leaving only 10.92 ha un-felled. Area figures by PB are: PB Prescribed (ha) Felled (ha) I 54.22 48.15 IV 50.98 46.13 Total 105.20 94.28

7.30.3: The Bamboo Working Circle: As no areas of Dharamshala and Dehra (Part) Forest Divisions were allotted to this Working Circle in the plan under revision, working of the circle is not discussed. 7.30.4: The Coppice Working Circle:

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All the better type miscellaneous and scrub forests were allotted to this Circle. The system of management was coppice with standards, with Rotation of 90 years for standards and 30 years for coppice. 40-50 vigorously growing trees of valuable species per ha were to be retained as standards. Other valuable species like chil, mango and young growth of economically valuable species were to be retained. As area of 820.99 ha was prescribed for felling in the shape of annual coupes over the plan period of this 745.78 ha was felled and 75.21 ha remained unworked. Definite programne of sowing/planting was not laid down. However, sowing/planting of species like chil, khair, shisham, Eucalyptus and siris was recommended. The prescriptions of the circle have worked well and density of stocking has considerably improved. The rotation age for coppice and standards fixed at30 and 90 years respectively is suitable and no change therein is required.

7.30.5: The Plantation Working Circle: Allotted to this circle were the areas with deep and fertile soil but which were either blank or were largely overgrown with useless scrub such as Mallotus, Carrissa, Dodonaea, Murraya etc. No definite silviculture system was adopted. No sequence of felling was either needed or prescribed. The areas were to be clear felled and sown/planted with chil, khair, mango, shisham, bamboo. 1397.70 ha area (813.90 in Dharamshala, 402.80 in Jwalamukhi and 181.00 ha in Shahpur Range) was prescribed for sowing/planting during the plan period. Out of this more area was planted up than that prescribed. On the whole the prescriptions have done much good to the areas allotted to this circle and substantial plantations have been raised. The Working Circle needs to be continued. 7.30.6: The Fuel and Fodder Working Circle: All the denuded and serni denuded type of scrub forests adjoining habitations and which were mostly used for meeting every day needs of life like fuel, fodder, wood for agriculture system was adopted. Similarly no rotation age or exploitable diameter was fixed. No yield was prescribed. The areas allotted to this circle were to remain open for meeting every day needs of local population and to be used as grazing grounds. Rotational Closure of half of the available area to grazing was suggested to be implemented on voluntary basis by the concerned society and the remaining half to remain open. Certain guidelines to be enforced strictly for lopping were laid down. The total area of the circle was 3534.19 (Dharamshala 2075.60 ha, Jawalamukhi 1132.19 ha Shahpur 325.68 ha). As no definite prescriptions were laid down, no clear results were to be expected nor were they obtained. There is no justification for continuance of this circle. As these areas are in bits and of small sizes, as also close to habitations and used as grazing grounds for the village cattle, their closure is impossibility with the result they need to be allotted to Protection Working Circle. 7.30.7: The Protection Working Circle: This Circle was comprised of all the remaining forests not allotted to any of the above mentioned Working Circles. No definite silviculture system was prescribed. The areas of the working circle were to remain closed for 15 years from 1.4.1968 for the grass and tree growth

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to flourish and spread. Programme for sowing and planting of chil and khair was laid down for 1591.60 ha Against this prescription hardly any area has been sown/ planted. Khair felling in Jwalamukhi Dehra and Mallan Ranges over an area of 483.84 ha area were prescribed. Out of which 439.73 ha area was felled. Thus prescriptions of 15 years closure of all areas from 1968 and sowing/planting over 1591.60 ha have not been followed. 7.31: GENERAL for CFSs: (i) Control and Record : Maintenance of CFS CH files is extremely poor. Entries of felling, planting, cultural operations, maintenance of boundary pillars etc are not available and wherever found are far too patchy and incomplete. (ii) State of boundaries: The boundary pillars at most places are in a state of utter disrepair and at some places altogether missing. The programme of repairs to boundary pillars has not been properly followed. (iii) Encroachment: Encroachment on some of the society forests are quite common. Sincere efforts at stopping encroachments are wanting. Allotments of land to the landless have aggravated the situation. (iv) Fire Protection: Most of the forests particu1ally of chil have been saved from fires resulting in good crop of young chil. However, some forests have suffered fire damage. Defective resin tapping is the bane of forest fires and needs to be replaced by the Rill method.

7.32: CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF M.P.SINGH PLAN, (1981-82 TO 1995-96) : Right bank of the river Beas which comprises the present Jawalamukhi, Nagrota Surian and two blocks of Dehra range (Dehra and Bankhandi) were covered under Dehra Felling Series of M.P. Singh Plan and were worked under following Working Circles: The Chil Shelter Wood Working Circle; The Coppice Working Circle; The Plantation Working Circle; The Protection Working Circle; The Khair (Over lapping) Working Circle & The Wild Life (Over lapping) Working Circle. 7.32.1: CHIL SHELTER WOOD WORKING CIRCLE : An area of 3728.79 ha consisting of Reserved Forests, Un-demarcated Protected Forests and Un-classed Forests and also Co-operative Forest Society forests were managed under this working circle. The forest of Dehra Felling Series were further divided into three inter felling series in consonance with legal status and from management point of view: 1) the rotational closure felling series (Felling Series-I) comprising 627.18 ha of Reserved Forests; 2) the V.C. Felling Series (Felling series-II) included 3084.60 ha of un-demarcated Protected Forests and un- Classed forests &, 3) the CFS (Felling Series III) contained 17.01 ha of Co-operative Society Forests (Un-classed Forests). The special objects of management were to continue for the conversion of generally irregular, under- stocked chil forests to more or less regular, fully stocked pure crops. Stock mapping was done on 1:15840 scale. General site quality was assessed to be III. Total enumeration of Chil was carried out in 10 cm dia classes down to 10 cm dbh. The growing stock was assessed to be 113.22 m 3 per ha in FS-I, 70.40 m 3 / ha in FS-II and 83.66 m 3/ha in FS-III (against normal stocking of 160 m 3/ha in normal crops). Total enumeration of Khair was also carried out in 5 cm dia classes down to 10 cm. dbh. In general the forests were found to be under-stocked.

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Compare with the position as of 1966-67 at the time of revision of this WP by Malhotra:

The main object of management was to convert the irregular chil forests into more or less regular crop. Complete enumeration of chil in PB I of felling Series I and Felling Series II was done. The average growing stock per ha was 64.52 m3/ha in felling series I and 51.59 m3/ha in felling series II.

The forests were to be managed under modified shelter wood system known as Irregular Shelter wood System (Punjab Shelter Wood System) which permits retention of compact groups of well grown poles upto 35 cm. dbh and not less than 0.2 ha in extent as a part of future crop. Marking was confined to selection principles where topographical features do not permit adoption of concentrated felling. Rotation of 120 years with regeneration period of 30 years in conformity with the requirement of rotational closure scheme was adopted. In FS I and III definite allotment to all the PBs was made. In FS II definite allotment was made to PB I only and remaining forests of this felling series were kept under “PB Others”. Two regeneration felling i.e. Seeding Felling and Final felling, were to be carried out in PB I. In seeding felling, 15 to 18 healthy, middle aged to mature Chil trees were to be retained per ha as seed bearers. Number of seed bearers can vary upto 25 trees per ha depending upon the topography of the area. Final felling was to be done when the regeneration was 2.5 m. in height. Five tall, healthy and vigorously growing trees were to be retained as fire insurance. No felling was prescribed in PB II & III. Only marking of trees in T.D. for meeting the local demand was prescribed. In PB III & IV removal of remaining over wood along with cleaning and thinning in congested groups of young crop was prescribed.

Yield was prescribed by volume and comprised main yield and intermediate yield. The main yield consisted of all felling in PB I and felling of IIA and above trees in PB IV. The Intermediate yield consisted of the cleaning and thinning in PB III, PB IV and PB others.

In FS I, total annual yield prescribed was 30000 m 3 which was to be realized on annual basis as 750 m 3 from PBI equal to 850m 3 (Seeding felling), PB IV 350m 3 (removal of over wood in PB IV) and thinning, improvement felling and cleanings in PB III and PB IV equal to 800 cum 3 against which 22312.33 m 3 was removed under salvage operation with a very meager volume in favour of right holders. This removal includes 7217.44 m 3 volume removed from PB II under salvage operations against which no yield was prescribed in PB II. Deviation of + 25% in the annual yield was allowed provided accumulative yield of 5 years did not exceed by + 10%. In PB I, yield was calculated by adding the volume of felled trees from 1981-82 to 1985-86 and on the assumption that 20 trees per ha will be retained as seed bearers and volume of 25% of V & IV class trees will be retained as a part of future crop. The main yield in PB IV was calculated on the basis of percentage of I & IInd class trees available for felling.

In FS II 63750 m 3 yield was prescribed to be removed as 2100 m3 annual yield from PB I (seeding felling) and 2150 m3 annual yield PB others (improvement felling, thinning and cleanings) under the plan under revision against which upto 1985-86, 1923.53m 3 volume was removed under

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salvage operations with a very meager quantity in favour of right holders of course. The method of calculating yield from PB I of FS II was the same as for the forests of PB I of FS I.

In FS III no yield was prescribed. All removals were reserved for meeting the demand of right holders.

A sequence of felling of FS I was laid down for seeding and final felling in Para 94.3(a) and 94.3(b). An area of 162.25 ha was prescribed for seeding felling in PB I and 42.90 ha in final felling of FS I; similar sequence of felling of PB I of FS II was laid down in para 94.4(a).

Subsidiary Silvi-Cultural operations such as disposal of felling debris, subsidiary felling, weeding, cleanings, sowing and planting were prescribed. Besides, misc. regulations such as closure, grazing, grass cutting, fire protection, control burning, fire lines, resin tapping etc. were also included in the concluding paras of this WC.

7.32.1.1: RESULTS OF WORKING: 7.32.1.1 (i): FELLING SERIES-I: No felling was done according to felling programme because of ban on green felling. However, every year salvage removals were done and accordingly following table show removals as well as deviations upto 1995-96 i.e. 14 years, in M 3.

Table 46: Deviation PB-I PB I PB-II PB Others FS I / FS II (FS II) (FS II) PB-III PB-IV Prescribed yield 30000 31500 nil 32250 11200 4900 15094.89 7217.44 Removals 1923.53 6213.50 3576.78 Deviation (-)9894.47 (-) 31500 (+) 7134.25 (-) 30326.47 (-) 4986.50 (-) 1323.22

7.32.1.1 (ii): REGENERATION POSITION: Seeding felling in PBI were not done according to the prescribed felling programme in all the felling series. However, 693 ha area of existing blanks in PB I and other areas was planted during the plan period. The details of areas planted year wise is given in the Annexure A. 7.32.1.1 (iii): SOWING AND PLANTING : No planting programme was prescribed, no sowing and planting in PB I areas was done after seeding felling as no such felling were done. However, planting on 116 ha was done in small patches wherever open patches were available. 7.32.1.1 (iv): CULTURAL OPERATIONS : Cultural operations such as cleanings and thinning were not carried out due to ban on green felling. 7.32.1.1 (v): FIRE PROTECTION AND CONTROL BURNING : Although control burning was suggested and broad rules given, no annual programme for control burning was prescribed. The result has been that the practice was not fully adhered to. 7.32.1.1 (vi): CRITICAL APPRAISAL :

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1. Yield on 1-4-1995 is deficit in all the PBs in felling series I except in PB II, where the excess removals are due to salvage removals. Over all position of yield in Felling Series I is (-) 9369.35 m3; yield in FS. II and PB I was deficit, whereas it was in excess for PB Others. 2. The overall position of yield being excess removals of 1494-87m 3 in FS II. No yield was prescribed in FS III and no removal made in salvage. Because of no felling in PB I areas in FS I, regeneration operations could not be taken up. 3. Stock maps need to be updated. 4. Demand of right holders was assessed as 800 m 3 for PB II & PB IV of FS I and another 2150 m 3 for PB others of FS II. Against this 1553.34 m 3 were given to right holders showing thereby variation of (-) 1396.66 m 3. Assessment of right holders demand was on the higher side. 5. Upper limit of 35 cm, diameter of advance growth was quite high and this could have resulted in large variation in age classes within the same periodic block. 6. There are a large number of regenerated chil areas in PB I & PB IV in the WC which require immediate removal of over head shade. This silvicultural requirement of crop is not being fulfilled due to ban on green felling. Thus, regeneration of Chil is suffering due to suppression. Similarly, the mature chil trees in PB I areas are also not being felled under seeding felling, due to ban on the felling of green trees and this will up-set the Mitchell and Walter Rotational closure scheme (1919). 7. Yield calculations in PB I were based upon the retention of 20 trees (III/5, IIA/8, IIB/7) per ha whereas in practice some IA trees in addition to III, IIA and IIB class trees are also retained. This had resulted in prescribing of higher yield. 8. Rill method of resin tapping was started in 1986 in this division. Complete switch over to this method was completed by 1991. Resin tapping by Rill method was not done as per guidelines with the result that 50% more area per blaze was tapped in most of cases. This caused a lot of damage to trees of lower diameter classes i.e. III class. Tapping of intervening space between two channels (French cup and Lip method) by Rill method resulted in girdling of trees. Therefore, tapping of lower diameter classes by Rill method has been found unsuitable. 9. In general growing stock in chil WC was not depleted on account of ban on green felling.

7.32.2: COPPICE WORKING CIRCLE : This working circle constituted of 1512.97 ha which included RF area 961.81 ha of Jawalamukhi , Nagrota Surian and Dehra Ranges (part) and CFS area 551.16 hectare of Jawalamukhi and Dehra Ranges and better stocked, dry deciduous scrub forests. The object of management was to maintain the forests in their natural form and improving their stocking through planting and also to meet demand of right holders for fuel fodder and small timber. Total enumeration of khair trees in 5 cm dia classes down to 10 cm dbh was done and yield was prescribed by area but the out turn was to be shown separately. No khair tree below 15 cm dbh was to be felled. The forests were to be managed under Coppice with Standard System with 30 years rotation of coppice. Plantation of suitable species for supplementing the coppice was suggested. Method of executing felling and sequence of felling were also laid down.

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7.32.2.1: RESULTS OF WORKING: An area of 299.37 ha has been felled under Coppice with standard system against 642.55 ha (upto 1995-96) prescribed. The deviation is (-) 343.18 ha. Out of 299.37 ha felled upto 1995-96 the position of regeneration is as under: Area Felled 299.37 ha 1. Area of natural 33.95 ha regeneration (Un- felled) 2. Area fully regenerated 76.03 ha /planted coppice Stock 3. Area partially 73.50 ha regenerated 4. Area poorly regenerated 69.80 ha 5. Blanks 46.72 ha

7.32.2.1 (i): CRITICAL APPRAISAL : 1. Out of 299.37 ha area felled in this WC, only 110 ha (43%) area has regenerated. The blanks and under-stocked areas (190.02 ha) are yet to be regenerated. Felled Coppice coupes were not vacated by the HPSFC in time in most of the cases, with the result that these could not be closed in time. The Coppice shoots of March and April in such areas were damaged by cattle. 2. Main object of management was to maintain original character of the crop, but this has not been achieved because of the following reasons: i) The dry deciduous mixed scrub forests have been converted to more or less pure khair forests as most of the felled coppice areas have been generally planted with khair only. ii) The important species i.e. Anogiessus latifolia is almost disappearing from the felled areas due to: a. Technique for regenerating the species artificially has not been established. b. The standards retained for Anogiessus species are very heavily lopped with the result that they do not produce any seed. c. Bush growth is dense. It does not allow seed to come in contact with the ground, therefore, natural regeneration is also absent. d. The coppice shoots of felled stumps are damaged /cut by right-holders for fodder. e. The coppicing power of Anogiessus trees is also decreasing with the increase of age of such trees.

3. The tending and other silvicultural operations were not carried out as per prescriptions in the felled areas. The closure of areas was not effective. The coppice shoots were not tended, singling of coppice shoots was ignored. 4. Natural regeneration was not freed from suppression. 5. No treatment for Lantana infested areas with dense bush growth was laid out by the WPO 6. The system has completely failed in areas having tall and dense growth of Lantana or other bushes. Therefore, the desired results were not achieved in the working circle. There are a large number of felled areas which could not be fully regenerated although the felling was done right in the beginning of the current working plan. Such areas require special treatment so that these are regenerated without any more loss of time.

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7.32.3: PLANTATION WORKING CIRCLE : This includes blanks, young plantations and under-stocked and degraded misc. scrub areas. Total area of W.C. is 2061.37 ha. The main object is to nurse existing plantation and to restock the blanks and area under useless scrub species with higher utility species. These areas were also to meet demand for fuel wood, fodder and small timber of local people. Four plantation series were created i.e. legal closure planting Series (FSI) Voluntary Plantation Series (FS II), CFs Plantation series (FS III) and Road and Railway side plantation series. Khair and chil were enumerated in plantation series I & II. Stock maps for all compartments have been prepared and placed in compartment history files. Scrub forests were to be managed under Modified clear felling system leaving about 30-40 trees/ha as standards for seed production and for meeting demand of right holders. No felling programme was prepared. Control of yield by areas was prescribed. Plantation programme was framed upto 1995-96 and 747.61 ha was prescribed for planting with a note that DFO may exceed the annual plantation target depending upon the availability of areas, budget allotment and administrative considerations.

Against this prescription, only 595 ha was planted (till 1996) leaving a wide gap to be covered. Planting on Railway and Road strips was also prescribed as Lump-sum without laying any particular sequence. Suggestions for maintenance of planted areas and cultural operations were given. Areas below 8 ha have shown better planting success than other areas. The larger areas like 0.10 D, Bilaspur, CFS Bilaspur, CFS Tatachan etc. have shown a lot of failures. 7.32.3.1: CRITICAL APPRAISAL : a. The areas of plantation series IV-b could not be planted on account of non-availability of areas. Achievements in case of FS IV are also not very clear in the absence of information. The sequence of Planting for raod & rail side stripes, laid down in para 138 was not followed. There has been no earmarked funding for this activity which is why it has remained neglected. Further, avenue plantations along roads are done by the PWD. The FD also did not have appropriately sized nursery stock of species that are recommended for such planting. b. Closure of 10 years for plantation raised in plantation series I as suggested, is too short for B/L species. The closure period should have been at least 15 years in order to fully regenerate the area. More area should have been prescribed for planting during the plan period. ?? c. WPO had not prepared the list of successful plantations. There is no data available by which we can assess as how much area under different species has been raised successfully in the past. d. No cleaning, thinning, pruning and other cultural operation programme was laid down for existing plantations with the result that this operation remained un-attended during the plan period. e. WPO had not discussed the type of areas which were/would be available for plantation in this working circle under each plantation series. It has been noticed in the field that pure chil areas have been planted with Khair and vice-versa. Clear guidelines are required to be laid down with regard to the choice of species for each area. f. No guidelines have been laid down for tackling Lantana infested areas and scrub forests with heavy bush growth. g. In plantation series II, it was suggested to raise three rows of fodder species all round the plantations; this was not practicable and was not followed.

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h. No sequence of felling was laid down for misc scrub forests with uneconomic species and their replacement by species of more utility and economic value. i. Although the enumeration of khair was done but no sequence for the removal of mature and over mature trees was laid down with the result that khair trees in this WC have become over- mature and have lost their economic value. But a ban of green felling in HP came into effect after 1983-84 and the issue of felling khair in Govt forests still persists.

7.32.4: PROTECTION WORKING CIRCLE : The forests with steep and difficult slopes and eroded situation were allotted to this WC. The general character of vegetation also varies from low lying areas near Pong Dam to higher areas of Nagrota Surian and Jawalamukhi Ranges. Area of the WC was 13,172.40 ha in Jawalmukhi, N- surian and Dehra ranges. The object being protection, no felling except dead, dry and fallen trees and trees for right holders, were prescribed. Total enumeration of khair down to 10 cm dbh in 5 cm dia-classes was done. Felling on only khair trees under Selection principles was allowed under Khair (overlapping) WC. Table 47: Abstract of Khair enumerated under Dehra Felling Series (1980-81): Dia classes in cm. FS 10 -15 15 -20 20 -25 25 -30 30 -35 35 -40 40 -45 45 -50 50 -55 Total I 29769 26697 25799 11117 7767 2968 1160 90 nil 105367 II 85935 72310 19417 7098 4544 1995 900 41 4 192244 Total 115704 99007 45216 18215 12311 4963 2060 131 4 297611

In 1981 it was assessed that about 32% of the WC was made up of blanks and the average tree density in the remaining area was about 0.3. An area of 5504.58 ha was prescribed for planting with a sequence and technique of planting. An area of 181.24 ha was planted out of the above said prescription upto 1995-96.

7.32.4.1: CRITICAL APPRAISAL : As per deviation statement 9476.78 m 3 has been removed upto 1995-96 (the end of the Plan) against no prescription; This is because of salvage removals combined with right holder’s markings (29.52 m 3). The planting programme was not followed. Tending operations were generally not carried out. Large size areas prescribed for planting could not be seriously attended to.

7.32.5: KHAIR OVER LAPPING WORKING CIRCLE : This WC overlapped chil and protection WCs and covers DPFs, UFs and UCs and Society Forests. Object of this WC was to harvest mature and over mature trees of khair and also to increase the proportion of khair in suitable localities by tending coppice shoots and natural regeneration and planting of khair. The management system adopted was selection system with 25 cm dbh as exploitable diameter and 15 years felling cycle. All the areas were to be gone over once in the plan. Enumeration of khair was done in chil and protection WCs in 5 cm diameter classes down to 10 cm dbh. No enumerations were carried out in co-operative Society Forests.

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Table 48: Abstract of khair trees enumerated in Chil WC for Dehra Felling series in 1981 was: Dia classes in cm. Range Area Ha 10-15 15-20 20-25 25-30 30- 35- 40- 45- >50 Total 35 40 45 50 Felling Series I J’mukhi 99.54 1142 857 397 235 70 66 12 nil nil 2779 N 738.92 42410 30787 28259 12013 8325 3324 1391 206 85 126800 Surian Total 838.46 43552 31644 28656 12248 8395 3390 1403 206 85 129579 Felling Series II J’Mukhi 1625.79 36679 31588 6139 422 85 14 6 nil nil 74933 Dehra 638.53 27210 21467 1682 11 nil nil nil nil nil 50370 N 2526.40 26708 18500 12159 7236 4645 2012 909 47 8 72234 Surian Total 4790.72 90597 71555 19990 7669 4730 2026 915 47 8 197537

Three felling series viz. FS I, FS II &FS III were suggested. Yield of 45000 trees by Brandies method was prescribed in FS I and II against which 5390 trees were felled under salvage operation, whereas in FS III yield was to be controlled by area with annual cut of 40 ha Thus against 407.76 hectare area prescribed in felling series III, 307.34 hectare area was felled in salvage operations. Sequence of felling and method of executing felling were prescribed. Khair trees granted to right holders were also to be counted toward yield. No closure was proposed in case of pure khair areas to protect and tend the coppice shoots. No planting programme was laid down. Felling cycle of 15 years was prescribed for all trees above 25cm, to be felled on selection basis. For having good coppice shoots 10 cm stump height was suggested. 7.32.5.1: CRITICAL APPRAISAL: As per deviation statement for 1995-96 removal is 5390 trees against prescribed 45000 trees in FS I & FS II. In FS III 307.34 ha has been gone over against 407.76 ha prescribed. It appears that felling in Govt forests came to a virtual halt after the state banned green felling in 1983-84.

7.32.6: WILDLIFE (OVERLAPPING) WORKING CIRCLE : This working circle includes Pong Lake and nearby fringe areas. The object was to preserve, protect and promote wildlife in and around lake areas. A brief note on the Pong WLS is below:

PONG WETLAND (RAMSAR SITE) & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY The pong wetland, offers a winter abode for the migratory birds coming from the trans- Himalayan zone. During 1994, it was declared a wetland of national importance by the MoEF. It was accorded international status as a “Ramsar” site during 2002. The area falls in biogeographic zone 4-a.

0 0 CO -ORDINATES : LATITUDE 31 49’ 50” TO 32 14’ 35” N 0 0 LONGITUDE 75 53’ 3” TO 76 17’ 52” E

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ALTITUDE UPTO 1450 FEET LEVEL AROUND THE LAKE AREA : 307 SQ KM AS PER NOTIFICATION . TEMPERATURE VARIES BETWEEN 4.5 O C TO 45 O C RAINFALL : AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL IS 1120 MM Legal status: initial notification in 1983 vide no. fts.(f)6 -5/82 dated 1.6.1983. The final notification was issued in 1999 by govt. of H P vide NO.FFE-B (F)6-8/99 dated 23.10.1999 under WLP (ACT), 1972.

trees include anogeissus, lannea, acacia, stephegyne, aeg le, bombex, syzygium ,flacourtia, zizyphus, mangifera, cassia, wendlendia, emblica, ficus spp,diospyros terminalia, albizzia etc. shrubs include carissa, dodonea , woodfordia, adhatoda, murraya , nyctanthus, mallotus, euphorbia, zizyphus mummularia, lantana etc climbers bauhinia, pueraria, mimosa, cissampelos, clematis caesalpinia, abrus, cascuta cryptolepis ichnocarpus etc. Grasses consist of dendrocalamus, eulaliopsis eriophorum, cynodon chry sopogon, hetropogon, botherriochloa themeda cymopogon, aris tida typha etc.

The WLS has more than 20 species of mammals: including leopard, sambar, blue bull, barking deer, jackal, jungle cat, rufous -tailed hare, wild boar, porcupine, langur and monkeys; more than 230 species of birds have been identified including the migratory birds around the wetland with over 69 spp. of water birds. The bar headed ge ese is the most conspicuous bird due to its size and numbers; the o thers are sarus cranes, storks, grebes, ducks, terns, skimmers etc. amongst the pheasants red jungle fowl, pea fowl and kalij pheas ants are there. Reptiles include several species of lizards and sna kes. About 27 species of fishes have been reported.

HUMAN BIRD CONFLICT : THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF CONFLICTS: ONE DUE TO FISH EATING BIRDS AND OTHER DUE TO GRAZING BIRDS . THE FISHERIES DEPT BLAMES DECREASE IN ANNUAL CATCH TO FISH EATING BIRDS LIKE CORMORANTS , TERNS , SKIMMERS , DARTERS. GRAZING BIRDS HAVE BEEN SHOWING CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN NUMBERS DUE TO AVAILABILITY OF GREEN FODDER / GRASS / CROPS SOWN IN THE DRAW DOWN AREA . AGRICULTURISTS USE FERTILIZER AND INSECTICIDES WHICH ARE A THREAT TO THE FISH FAUNA AND BIRDS .

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VILLAGES AND POPULATION : THE AREA TILL 1410 FEET HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY BBMB AND NO PRIVATE LAND EXITS IN / / IT . BETWEEN 1410 AND 1450 FEET THERE ARE ABOUT 64 SMALL AND BIG VILLAGES INHABITED BY MORE THAN 27,000 HUMANS AND 12,000 LIVESTOCK . BESIDES LINK ROADS AND A RAILWAY LINE LIE WITHIN THE SANCTUARY . ABOUT 1500 FAMILIES ARE DIRECTLY DEPENDENT ON THE WETLAND FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING WHICH IS PRACTICED FROM THE VERY INCEPTION OF RESERVOIR . ANOTHER 3500 FAMILIES ARE DEPENDENT FOR THEIR AGRICULTURE CROPS IN THE DRAW DOWN AREA . CATTLE , C. 20000, BOTH DOMESTIC AND NOMADIC , GRAZE HERE . OVER 1,50,000 WATER BASED BIRDS ARE DEPENDENT ON THIS WETLAND DURING WINTER . THE DISTURBANCE LEVELS WITHIN AND AROUND THIS WLS ARE VERY HIGH . PROBLEM AND THREATS :- I) ENCROACHMENTS : PEOPLE DO TEMPORARY ENCROACHMENTS AS THE WATER LEVEL RECEDES , BUT ABOVE MAX LEVEL OF WATER ATTAINED ANNUALLY , PERMANENT ENCROACHMENTS ARE COMING UP . II ) DENUDATION OF CATCHMENT LEADING TO SILTATION : THE WHOLE CATCHMENT OF THE RESERVOIR , ABOUT 12000 SQ KM , NEEDS TREATMENT . SILTATION , BESIDES SHORTENING THE LIFE OF THE RESERVOIR AFFECTS THE WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY WHICH ADVERSELY IMPACTS THE WETLAND . III ) WEEDS : THERE IS NO PROBLEM OF AQUATIC WEEDS BUT LAND WEEDS LIKE LANTANA , CONGRESS GRASS, CASSIA TORA ETC . NEED ERADICATION . IV ): FISHING : MORE THAN 300 MT OF FISH IS EXTRACTED ANNUALLY. BIRDS GET ENTANGLED , DISTURBANCE CAUSED BY FISHING BOATS AT ALL TIMES , TEMPORARY CAMPS OF FISHERMEN ; ALL POSE A POTENTIAL THREAT TO THE BIRDS . V): GRAZING: MORE THAN 20000 CATTLE INCLUDING ABOUT 6000 OF NOMADS GRAZE THE WETLAND AREA AFTER MARCH – APRIL TILL SEPTEMBER . BESIDES THE ILL EFFECTS OF GRAZING LIKE EROSION , DAMAGE TO THE EGGS AND HATCHLINGS OF THE BIRDS WHICH BREED ON THE GROUND IS SIGNIFICANT . THE AFFECTED BIRDS ARE TERNS , PRATINICOLE , LAPWINGS AND SKIMMERS . VI ): POACHING : MIGRATORY BIRDS ARE EASY PREY FOR POACHERS AS THEY NUMBER IN THOUSANDS AND ALSO RAID PRIVATE LANDS . CONSERVATION MEASURES: BESIDES PROTECTION , HABITAT IMPROVEMENT , AUGMENTATION OF FOOD RESOURCES, ANTI GRAZING DRIVE , UPROOTING OF WEEDS , A COMPREHENSIVE WETLAND DEVELOPMENT / MANAGEMENT PLAN INVOLVING THE PEOPLE LIVING JUST ON THE PERIPHERY IS READY & NEEDS URGENT IMPLEMENTATION .

54: Baldev Singh 5 th Working Plan for the Forest of Una and Dehra (Part) Divisions 1981-82 to 1995-96: 7.33.1: Bamboo Working Circle : Bamboo working Circle constitutes 723.87 hectare. This area was further divided into A and B type = 649.77 ha & And C type = 74.10 hectare. The entire area includes Reserved forests of two Ranges namely Dehra Range (part) 98.70 hectare and Dadasiba Range DPF= 625.17 ha felling programme was laid down for C type only. Against 146 ha area prescribed only 7.6 hectare was felled. But no planting programme was laid down neither any survey programme prescribed. 7.33.2: Khair Overlapping Working Circle : This working circle is overlaps Chil shelter wood WC only and spreads over an area (over lapping) of 4195.73 ha. Of this, Dadasiba Range included DPF=875.72 ha and UPF=2670.05 ha whereas Dehra Range (part) included RF=81.44 ha and UCF 568.02 ha totaling 4195.73 ha. The entire area was prescribed for felling during the plan under revision against which 1500 trees and 2834.06 ha =13357 trees were felled under salvage operations. Felling cycle of 15 years was prescribed and all the trees above 20 cm dbh were prescribed to be felled. No regular felling was carried out. As a result mature khair trees remained in the forests which ultimately became

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over mature and led to deterioration of quality. The trees/area prescribed for removal does not match with trees/area actually felled. It appears the yield was not calculated properly. No planting programme was laid down. 7.33.3: Coppice Working Circle : Coppice working circle is constituted of 3457.34 ha area. The entire area was further divided into two types, viz A type area –1449 hectare out of which 885.75 ha was prescribed to be felled in the plan under revision against which 403.20 hectare could be felled. B type area =2007.35 ha for which no commercial felling was prescribed. No proper felling programme was followed due to ban on green felling. As a result felling remained in arrears. Except for Dadoa area, no other area was felled under coppice and it could not meet the subsidiary silvicultural requirements such as cleaning singling etc. As a result uniformity of the crop was disturbed and mature trees remained in the forest. Openings creating in salvage operation invited weeds. Planting for A type area was prescribed in the years following the year of felling. B type area =771.32 hectare were also prescribed for felling but only the removal of scrub growth followed by planting.

7.33.4: Protection Working Circle : Total area of Protection Working Circle in plan under revision was 1233.67 ha. Felling programme was laid down but no yield was prescribed. Planting was not thought to be practically feasible. Soil conservation measures were suggested as warranted, depending on the availability funds. 7.33.5: Chil Working Circle : Chil Working Circle was constituted of an area of 4195.73 ha which included Dehra Range (part) RFs=81.44 ha, UCF=568.52 ha and Dadasiba, DPF=875.72 ha and UPF=2670.05 ha. Felling series viz. Legal closure and voluntary closures were suggested. No yield was prescribed for legal closure series. Yield in voluntary closure series was prescribed in PBIV area=620.21 ha. for the removal of overhead trees and also removal by way of thinning in the congested crop. Removal from salvage and in favour of right holders was to count towards yield. 7700 M 3 yield was prescribed to be removed from PBIV areas against which 42776.09 M 3 was removed under Salvage felling, leading to a vast deviation of +35076.09 M 3. The entire removal was under salvage operation due to fire burnt trees. A very minor vol. given to right holders is also part of this huge vol. removed. During W.P. field operations, it has been observed that interest of chil regeneration was neglected and preference was given to khair and other B.L. species. As a result chil regeneration was greatly hampered. Against 1074.51 ha only 350 ha chil area was regenerated. 7.34: A LOOK BACK AND THE ROAD AHEAD : The first Working Plan for Kangra by Hart commenced in 1903-04. It is over a hundred years now since “scientific” forest management has sought to be implemented over the forests through six WPs varying between ten and thirty years. The Century has also seen the original Kangra forest division areas split into Dharamshala, Nurpur, Palampur, Una, Hamirpur and finally Dehra forest divisions, the latter being set up in 1983-84. Kangra has also had part of its forests managed through the Kangra Forest Co-operative Societies formed since 1940 and which continued to get government support till 1973.

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The Co-operative Forest society scheme was sanctioned by the Govt. vide letter no.568 dated 27th Feb.1940. By the end of 31-03-1953, 71 societies were complete each with an approved working plan with a total area of 58748 Acres / 23499 ha. The scheme was further reviewed in detail and extended for a period of ten years w.e.f 01-04-1961 with certain modifications. After reviewing the functioning of CFS Himachal Pradesh Govt. further extended the same up to 31- 03-1973 under usual terms and conditions as laid down in Pb. Govt. Memo dated 21-11-1961 vide H.P Govt. letter No. 4-55-70-SF dated 31-03-1973.

Assessment of Various WPs:

Hart’s WP (1903-04 TO 1921-22) had satisfactory results. Though many of its prescriptions could not be fully carried out, the Chil forests improved. Conditions, however, necessitated early revision of this WP and this resulted in Walter’s Revised WP (1920-21 to 1929-30). This WP apparently ‘misfired’ in that due to application of the Uniform System across the board, yield prescriptions were far higher than warranted by the condition of the forests with varying topography and related factors. Reportedly a “huge conflagration” broke out in 1921 and many of the trees which were to count towards annual increment were wiped out. Mohan’s Revised WP was for 20 years, 1930-31 to 1950-51. The prescriptions and suggestions of various Working Circles were almost fully implemented. Shelter wood System introduced by Walter in 1921 and continued in this plan for Chil and Oak, proved suitable. In all working Circles natural regeneration was adequate and fairly good, artificial regeneration was also obtained. The demands of right holders were fully met with. Felling except in Chil Shelter wood Working Circle, were only slightly behind the schedule and proved beneficial to the crop. A large number of buildings, roads and bridle paths were constructed. Deodar was artificially introduced though on a limited scale, in comptt 3 of D.P. Dharmkot, DP Chakbar, Kareri C 5, P. 42. K Leondnal C 1. It has done very well in case of D.P. Dharmkot and Chakban Kareri while in Leondnal it has failed. The next Revised WP by Romesh was for 30 years, 1951-52 to 1980-81. In the first half of this WP there was excess felling over the prescribed yield and regeneration also did not keep pace. Between 1962 & 1965 Eucalyptus was introduced in clear felled areas, but as it did not live up to its promise, Eucalyptus plantation was done away with in 1966-67. But strangely quite large scale Eucalyptus plantations continued to be carried out till the mid 1980s especially in forest divisions of Kangra Circle. Conditions, however, necessitated early revision of this WP. Malhotra’s WP, 1966-67 to 1980-81, had 8 Working Circles in it. Apparently, the Chil Shelter Wood WC did well in places where fires were controlled and closures were respected. Problems with adequate natural regeneration, however, continued to persist. There were unexplained excessive removals in various PB including PB I. Forest Working was nationalised in 1975 and much of the damage to chil trees has been attributed to faulty resin tapping since then. Plantation activities especially of Chil and Khair have picked up since the 1980s and have not looked back. This has been mainly due to the 20 Point Programme which is Centrally monitored till today and has plantations as one of the monitor-able points with annual targets allocated by GoI.

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The first Integrated Working Plan for the Cooperative Societies of Kangra district was compiled by Rawal for the period 1967-68 to 1982-83. There were 29 Cooperative Forest Societies in Dharamshala and Dehra (Part) Forest Division. It appears that the prescriptions for Chil, Coppice and Plantation WCs under this WP worked well and did good to the forests. More than 50 % of the felled areas were naturally regenerated and plantations did well too. The relatively better performance of the KFCSs could be attributed to broader and keener public participation than elsewhere. KFCSs were, however, found to be weak in book / record keeping. 7.35:M.P.SINGH PLAN, (1981-82 TO 1995-96): This is probably the most well articulated and coherent WP written for the tract which includes the present day Dharamshala and Dehra forest divisions. During this period there were two epochal changes that continue to influence the course and content of forest management, hopefully for the better. The year 1980 saw the enactment of the FCA, 1980; a concurrent legislation that only allowed diversion of forest land for non forestry purposes after approval of the MoEF. Second, in 1983-84, the GoHP banned green felling in forests of the state and this was later endorsed by the Supreme Court of India in 1996. Both these developments have been instrumental in putting an end to wanton diversion of forest land for other purposes including distribution of forest land to the landless / marginal farmers. The green felling ban stopped in its tracks the often grandiose felling plans / series that still dominate the forest management discourse as articulated in WPs. Most of the felling prescribed in this WP could, therefore, not be carried out and this actually benefitted many of the forests. The case that seeding felling alone results in natural regeneration no longer held true as ground conditions towards the close of the century had completely changed. Human and other biotic and development pressures continue to squeeze the forest estate.

CHIL SHELTER WOOD WORKING CIRCLE Due to ban on green felling, the Chil stock was not depleted; however, excess removals in PB Others are recorded and attributed mainly to salvage removals caused due to faulty tapping for resin even after introduction of the rill method. This method has been found particularly damaging to the smaller girth chil trees. COPPICE WORKING CIRCLE Even though less than half of the prescribed area under this WC was felled, regeneration remained a problem. Plantations taken up in the cleared areas were almost purely of khair and the original, native BL species were neglected. Natural regeneration was deficient due to emergence of lantana and other weeds. It would seem that due to emergence of new inhibiting conditions like the spread of lantana and more intense fires occurring now, the earlier assumptions on which these silvicultural principles rested were being set aside and fresh management approaches were required. PLANTATION WORKING CIRCLE It is noticed that the plantation area actually planted against the target prescribed fell short. What is worrisome is that we do not know about the fate the plantations that were taken up under this WC. This is because no records in terms of proper plantation journals have been maintained and the few that might have been maintained are either destroyed or lost. There are no entries about plantations, their success or otherwise in CH files and so after 15 years of implementation of this WC, there is virtually no record of the plantations done or their fate.

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Casual observations, however, indicate that the obvious large scale failures of plantations (except perhaps those of chil and khair) can be attributed to a host of factors that continue to be ignored / not addressed till today. The role of fires in destroying new plantations, especially in scrub and chil tracts, has not been properly recorded, analysed and therefore not understood to enable formulation of effective strategies to counter the large scale mortality in plantations. Similarly, tackling grazing, effective closure, quality of plants raised in nurseries and so forth continue to plague even valiant efforts to artificially regenerate forests. This is apparent from the absence of any data, discussion or analysis on these counts in current or past Working Plans. PROTECTION WORKING CIRCLE This is one of the more weird WCs, not conceptually, but in terms of management prescriptions, actual working and therefore a reflection of the “timber” fixation of foresters. A huge area of over 13, 000 ha has been assigned to this WC. These are described as steep and precipitous forests and their average density assessed at 0.3. Clearly most of them are heavily infested with lantana and other obnoxious weeds. The forests have many blanks, BUT apparently have khair trees scattered across them. This apparently is the temptation and so total enumeration over this huge area was got done and all khair trees down of 10 cm dhb were measured and numbered. Why one would ask especially when no yield by number of trees or area has been prescribed? And what happens? 9947 m3 of “salvage” timber is removed from this WC during the Plan period. One the other hand against the 5505 ha of area prescribed for planting under this WC only 181 is carried out! (ofcourse what happened to these 181 ha is also not known). The saving grace about WP prescriptions is that by the time it is discovered (if ever) about how they have been flouted there are neither records nor the persons concerned to provide any answers!

KHAIR OVERLAPPING WORKING CIRCLE: In this case, 45,000 khair trees of over 25 cm dbh were prescribed to be felled, but only about 5000 odd were actually felled. The green felling ban apparently came in the way. However, of the 407 ha of area prescribed to be gone over for felling khair, over 307 was gone over via the route of salvage felling. It would seem that over 75% of the prescribed area fell victim to forest fires or have salvage removals become a front to side step the ban on green felling? Either way the forests continue to suffer. They have many over mature trees of khair when not felled or have nearly everything cleared when marked for salvage removals, inviting large scale invasion by alien species. 7.35.1: Baldev Singh 5 th WP for the Forest of Una and Dehra (Part) Divisions 1981-82 to 1995- 96 : It appears that due to the ban on green felling, there have been less removals than prescribed in Coppice, Khair, Plantation WCs. In chil WC, however, there have been massive excess removals (+ 35,077 M 3) .

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CHAPTER VIII

STATISTICS OF GROWTH AND YIELD 8: General The site quality of chil is corresponding to FRI site quality to III. The figures of local volume tables for chil & other mixed Broadleaved trees as adopted by M.P. Singh for the right bank of river Beas i.e. Jawalamukhi Range, Nagrota Surian range, Dehra Range part (Present Dehra block and Bankhandi Block) will continue to be applicable for the tract dealt with falling on the right bank of the river Beas. Table 49: Volume table for the right bank Local Volume-table: (Stem-timber and stem-small-wood) Dia.cm Class Volume m3 10 -20 V 0.05 20 -30 IV 0.23 30 -40 III 0.65 40 -50 IIA 1.36 50 -60 IIB 2.35 60 -70 IA 3.62 70 -80 IB 5.20 80 -90 IC 5.20 90 & above ID 5.20

8.1: The above table shall be applicable for all practical purposes. However, in some special cases, volume-table for different height-class may be required. The volume-table s compiled by F.R.I. for various height-classes is, therefore reproduced hereunder for ready reference: Table 50: The volume table for various height-classes

Dia in cm Class Volume (m 3) (Stem timber & Stem -small -wood Height Class)

34.75 m to 27.74 m to 21.95 to 27.74 m 42.06 m 34.75 m 10 -20 V 0.098 0.098 0.098 20 -30, IV 0.420 0.392 0.336 30—40 III 1.042 0.888 0.804

40 -50 IIA 1.951 1.738 1.598 50 -60 IIB 3.255 2.986 2.730 60 -70 IA 5.209 4.629 4.020 70 —80 IB 7.362 6.230 5.238 80 —90 IC 7.362 6.230 5.238 90 & above ID 7.362 6.230 5.238 8.2: Volume table for the Left Bank Volume table for chil adopted by Baldev Singh to the forests situated on the left bank of river Beas applicable for Dada siba range and Dehra range part (present Pirsului & Sadwan block) of the area 99

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dealt with will continue to be adopted for the same areas for future also. The site quality of chil being III/IV same is reproduced below. Table- 51 Vol. table for Left Bank Dia (cm) Class Volume (m) 3 10-20 V 0.028 20-30 IV 0.19 30-40 III 0.65 40-50 IIA 1.44 50-60 IIB 2.60 60-70 & above IA 3.54 8.3: Diameter-Age Relationship: The diameter-age relationship as given in the plan under revision has been checked in the field by analyzing a sufficient number of fresh stumps. The diameter growth-rate of chil for the divisions as given below compares reasonably well with the F.R.I. figures, keeping in view the fact that the stocking of the new crop (P.B.IV, P.B.III and the plantation areas) is generally full. Table 52 : Diameter-Age Relationship

Diameter 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 over-bark cm

Age (Year) 30 42 52 62 72 80 92 102 104 120 135 160 8.4. Volume Increment Volume increment as worked out by M.P. Singh in the plan under revision will be adopted as such as reproduced below for the Right Bank Felling Series I & II and CFS Felling Series III. 8.4. Volume Increment table for Right Bank Felling Series Table 53(A) Diameter class (cm) vol. increment% 10-20 6.51 20-30 3.87 30-40 3.22 40-50 1.80 50-60 1.23 60-70 0.56

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100 Volume increment as worked out by applying Pressler`s formula in the Nurpur Forest Division and applicable to the Left Bank in the plan under revision will continue to be adopted as such and is reproduce below: 8.4.1 Volume Increment table for Left Bank Felling Series Table 53(B) Diameter class (cm) vol. increment% 10-20 -- 20-30 6.84 30-40 3.98 40-50 1.64 50-60 0.41 60-70 0.41 8.5: Vol. Table for Mixed B.L. Species The various B.L. species occur sporadically and are mainly utilized as fuel wood. The current volume factor in use have been checked out in the field & found to be reasonably correct. The same volume factors are therefore adopted. Table 54: Vol. Table for Mixed B.L. Species

Dia - (cm) Class Volume (m 3) 10 -20 V 0.028 20 -30 IV 0.141 30 -40 III 0.566 40 -50 IA 1.132 50 -60 IIB 1.132 60 -70 IA 1.415 70 -80 IB 1.415 80 -90 IC 1.415 90 & above ID 1.415

8.6: Fuel Wood Fuel wood is also an important forest produce of the area. The no. of trees of different species & diameter classes available per hectare of area under mix. B.L. Scrub species as adopted by Baldev Singh will continue to be adopted for volume factor also for left bank of river Beas as mentioned below :-

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101

Table - 55 Stocking per Hectare classification Name of species Classification V IV III IIA VB Annogeisus latifolia 6 4 - - - Lannea coromandelltica 1 9 4 2 - (kembal) Eugenia jambolana 2 3 1 - - Eugenia jambolana var. Albizzia odoratinima(Karmaru) 2 1 - - - Flacourtia indica (kangu) 12 6 2 - - Mallotus Philipinnsis 13 12 2 - - Total 36 39 9 2 - The stacked volume of fuel wood per hectare is estimated as 25m 3 with & weight of 175 quintal (wet). For the right bank of river Beas the fuel wood out turn as worked out by M.P. Singh will be adopted in future also. The average out tern comes to about 475 quintal/hectare. Though this figure should not be taken as a strict yard stick yet it will serve as a guideline in arriving at rough estimates of fuel wood out turn from the forests dealt was under the entire tact of this plan. 8.7: KHAIR: Khair is the most important species of the tract after chil and is used in the manufacture of katha. The khair trees are grown from seed as also through coppicing. Plantations from seed origin up to about 10 years of age are easily distinguishable. The average result of measurements from different plantations for 10 years done on 10 plants of each year are as below: Table 56 :

Age Yrs d.b.h.(cm) height (m) Age Yrs d.b.h.(cm) height (m) 1. --- 0.42 6. 3.95 4.20 2. --- 0.94 7. 5.60 5.82 3. 0.70 1.48 8. 7.45 6.30 4. 1.20 2.57 9. 7.80 7.35 5. 2.50 3.40 10. 8.00 8.85

The measurements taken on 10 khair tress of coppice origin for each year are as under: Table 57 :

Age Yrs d.b.h.(cm) height (m) Age Yrs d.b.h.(cm) height (m)

1 2.40 2.30 8 9.00 8.00 2 4.20 3.50 9 10.20 8.50 3 4.70 4.50 10 11.40 9.50 4 5.70 6.00 11 13.00 10.20 5 6.45 6.50 15 14.30 11.00 6 7.10 6.85 20 17.10 11.50 7 8.30 7.40 24 18.75 13.00

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102 The analysis of the data shows that the rate of growth of the seedling crop is markedly different from that of the coppice crop.

In view of heterogeneous nature of the crop, the data adopted from Haldwani Forest Division by M.P.Singh and Baldev Singh for the calculation of standing volume of Khair per ha (m3) has been utilized as under: Table 58: Crop Average Avg ht No. of Standing volume (stem age(yrs) d.b.h. (cm) (m) trees / ha timber) per ha (m 3) 5 (3.50) (3.50) ------10 (7.60) (6.00) ------15 (11.10) (8.50) (583) --- 20 (13.90) (10.90) (514) 5.59 25 16.50 (13.10) (445) 11.61 30 18.80 14.90 385 20.64 35 20.80 16.70 331 26.93 40 22.60 18.30 287 32.53 45 24.10 19.50 252 37.78 50 25.40 20.70 227 41.93 55 26.60 21.60 203 --- 60 27.70 22.50 188 --- (The figures in bracket are extrapolated)

The table below shows the average period taken by different diameter classes to enter into the next higher diameter class. This is derived from the above table:

Table 59:

Dia - Class Total age on entering the class (Yrs) (cm)

25 47 Yrs 20 -25 33 Yrs 14 Yrs

15 -20 22 Yrs 11 Yrs

10 -15 14 Yrs 8 Yrs

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103 8.8: It is estimated that the annual mortality rate in passing from one diameter class to the other is about 2%; the figure for Haidwani Working Plan being 1.87%

Following table gives the diameter; total volume, heartwood volume, weight of heartwood and weight of air dry Katha, as compiled by study of 10 trees of each diameter class: Table 60: Total volume, heartwood volume, weight of heartwood Dia -class Standing Heartwood vol Wt of heartwood Weight air dry Ht (m) (cm) vol (m3) (m3) (kg) katha (kg) 10 -15 8.30 0.026 0.012 11.00 --- 15 -20 10.10 0.069. 0.030 31.50 2.50 20 -25 11.75 0.117 0.056 50.50 4.95 25 -30 12.85 0.168 0.108 78.50 8.00 30 -35 13.30 0.253 0.176 128.00 13.80 35 -40 13.30 0.330 0.241 167.50 18.00 40 -45 13.30 0.434 0.302 197.00 22.80 45 -50 13.30 0.545 0.388 280.00 28.70 8.9: SOME CONVERSION FACTORS: Data for solid volume; stacked volume and weight of fuel wood for misc. BL species was collected from Dharamshala Fuel Wood sale depot in various seasons. The solid volume of the billets was calculated by the quarter girth formula. The results obtained are as under: (i) Solid volume/stacked volume = 1:2 (ii) Air-dry weight/m3 stacked volume 3.60 qtls. (iii) Air-dry weight/m3 solid volume 7.20 qtls. 8.9.1. Charcoal Charcoal is made mainly from chil. It is estimated that 1.05 quintal of charcoal is extracted from one cubic mater of standing volume. 8.10: QUALITY CLASSES: The site quality classes in respect of chil have been assessed by taking height and diameter measurements of at least ten dominant trees in each compartment/sub compartment and by comparing the same with the standard site quality classes given in the multiple yield tables. These have been recorded in the respective compartment history files. The average site quality of chil is III. 8.11: DENSITY: The canopy density of all the compartment/sub compartments has been assessed occularly and recorded in the respective compartment history files. 8.12. Stocks Maps Stock maps on 1:15000 scale have been prepared for each compartment, the tracings of which have been placed in each compartment history file. Four sets of divisional stock maps have been prepared on 1”=1 mile scale. One each for Addl Principal Chief conservator of forest working plan Mandi, Conservator of forests Dharamsala(Now Hamirpur)circle, & Divisional Forest Officer Dehra Forest Division Dehra.

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104 8.13: ENUMERATIONS: Tota1 enumeration down to 10 cm d.b.h. in 10 cm dia-classes have been carried out for the entire Chil Working Circle, of Khair in 5 cm diameter classes down to 10 cm d.b.h. in Chil Working Circle (felling series I & II), Protection Working Circle (felling series I & II), Coppice Working Circle, Plantation Working Circle (felling series I & II), and Bamboo Working Circle. The details for each compartment/sub compartment have been given in Volume 11,appendix11

8.14: REGENERATION SURVEY: Regeneration assessment survey of all P.B.I. areas of the Chil Shelter wood Working Circle (Felling Series I, Felling Series II and Felling Series III), of the Plan under revision; was done and regeneration survey maps prepared on 16” =1 miles (1: 3960) scale along with regeneration assessment report and have been placed in the compartment history files. The definitions of completely regenerated; moderately regenerated and poorly regenerated areas have been taken as under: (i) FULLY REGENERATED Poles with density 75% and abo ve. (ii) MODERATELY REGENERATED Poles with density 50 to 75% or saplings and seedlings with density 75% and above. (iii)POORLY REGENERATED Poles with density less than 50% or saplings /seedlings and recruits with density 50% to 75%.

8.14.1. Sal The site quality of sal is below quality B of FRI yield table as checked from the curve drawn by plotting age determined from year of felling and the average height of shoots measured in different forests in Baldev Singh`s W.P. under revision. No fresh data was possible to be collected owing to the ban on regular felling in the tract dealt with. Therefore, data reproduced below as adopted by Baldev Singh will continue to be adopted for all purposes.

60(A) Growth statistics of Sal

Age Girth of brest height (cm) Height No. of shoots measured Maximum Average Minimum

3 10 9 6 4.50 25 5 15 12 7 5.80 13 6 16 14 7 5.20 12 9 17 16 8 2.30 12 10 18 17 8 7.30 14 15 21 18 8 8.20 17 17 23 18.5 8 8.50 16 22 25 19 8.5 10.40 15 24 25 19 9.5 13.50 20 30 25 20 10 15.00 15

From the above the curve drawn indicates that the sal coppice shoots grow very well for first five years, then the diameter increment declines steeply at the age of 10 years. The behavior of sal coppice can be explained by the fact that want of cleaning of stool shoot after five years of felling retards growth. 105

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CHAPTER - IX

9: ESTIMATE OF CAPITAL VALUE OF FORESTS:

A rough estimate of the capital value of the forests based on the value of land and growing stock is as under:

9.1: Land:

Total forest land Cost of land Total value (ha) per ha (Rs) (Rs) 30108.80 10,00,000 30,10,80,00,000

9.2: Growing Stock:

Species Vol(m3) Rate(per m 3)/per Total value of meter girth growing stock (Rs)

Chil 417000 2070/- 863047315/-

Khair 510800 1330/-(per meter 679351285/- Girth)

Misc. BL/ Fuel wood 12500 80/- 1000000/-

Bamboo 53400 15/- 800000/-

Total 993700 M3 Rs 1544198600/-

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