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ECONOMIC TRENDS
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FOREST RESOURCES.
Nature is extremely bountiful to Chanda in bestowing abundant forest resources. The luxuriant and lofty teak trees in the
varied forests in the district bear a grand testimony to the
immense natural wealth. The forests known as the 'glory of Allapalli' present not only a lavish panorama of evergreen
vegetation, but also are among the best in Asia. They abound
in the best quality of teak trees with a height ranging up to
125 feet. The Allapalli teak is rated next to the best quality of
Burma teak. The C. P. teak which has earned a high reputation all over the country mainly comes from Chanda.
Besides teak, the Chandrapur forests are affluent with other
species, such as sisam, bija, bamboo, salai and semal. The dense bamboo vegetation is a rich source of building material and an excellent raw material for paper pulp.. The Ballarpur Paper and Straw Board Mill bears eloquent testimony to this forest wealth. The abundance of match wood and bidi leaves has considerable significance in the context of raw materials for industrial development in the district.
The forests in this district which are scientifically classified as southern tropical dry deciduous forests occupy an expanse of 7.285 square miles, and comprise about 72.21 per cent of the total geographical area. They yield an income of over Rs. 1.60 crores per annum to the public exchequer.
The following extracts from the Chanda District Gazetteer published in 1909 throw some light on the forest wealth of the
district:
" The most important species of timber is teak which except in the south of the Ghat range is usually found mixed with other species. The Alapalli, Elchil and Machhligatta blocks contain the finest teak in the Central Provinces, the largest specimens attaining a height of from 120 to 130 and a girth of 8 or 9, or even exceptionally 10 to 12 feet. The best crop is met with at the foot of the Bhimargam hills in the Alapalli range, and its excellence is to a great extent due to continued immunity from fire and grazing, which has converted the open grass land type of forest, still to be seen across the boundary line in the unprotected zamindari area, into a dense coppice of fine straight stems. Bijasal grows to a large size in Alapalli and Sironcha and is found throughout the division; owing to the high price of teak it is coming more and more into use as a building wood. "
Besides, the other important species having immense market-value are sisam, saj or yen, haldu and bamboo. The finest quality of lac is produced in the district.
Realising the importance of this natural wealth, the Forest Department of the State formulated in 1967-68 a perspective plan for the scientific development and optimum utilisation
of forests. The perspective plan, with an emphasis on the enrichment of this
wealth in the future, highlights scientific management of working plans, regeneration of the worked areas, afforestation to prevent erosion and realization of sustained forest revenue. The Forest Department has undertaken a number of special activities regarding preservation of the valuable species and soil conservation. The departmental activities also include scientific training of forest roads fit for mechanised transport.
construction of bridges and bunds, provision of logging machinery, and processing and seasoning of timber.
The various activities under the perspective plan are calculated to explore the huge potentialities of forest wealth in the district which would lead to progress and a large increase in the
revenue. The perspective planning is important in the context
of the fact that the forests all over the world have been in a
continuous process of recession.
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