SHIMLA: The World Bank could soon bail out Himachal Pradesh's shrinking forests by funding an ambitious Rs.3.7 billion ($84.2 million) conservation project.
Shrinking forests are causing concern among several quarters in the hill state and have started affecting the ecologically fragile mid hills (1,800 to 5,000 ft above sea level), resulting in water scarcity and soil erosion.

"We're now only a step away from getting a Rs.3.7 billion forest project, which will be the largest such scheme for the conservation of the rich and varied mid-Himalayan forests in the hill state," said a state forest official.
"A team of World Bank experts will arrive here Sep 18 for a final meeting, after which the ambitious project is expected to be cleared by next month," the official said.
The government had submitted a Rs.5.4 billion ($123 million) proposal, which was scaled down by experts form the bank to Rs.3.7 billion.
"Once cleared, the project would be implemented in seven years and the money would be spent in the ecologically fragile mid-hills in 10 districts involving 400 panchayats," the official explained. –
The high-altitude tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur would not be covered by the project.
"The primary focus of the project would be on the conservation of water resources which is fast shrinking in the mid hills of the state. Afforestation, water harvesting and building check dams would also be carried out with the help of locals and other agencies," he said.
Unlike in the past, locals and non-governmental agencies would assist the government this time in a far more integrated manner to achieve better results, say officials.
According to official figures a quarter of the hill state area is under forests, which is far below the ideal limit.
Environmentalists have been raising concerns over increasing illegal felling and encroachments of forestland for long.
Many ecologists fear the forest cover could be lower which is affecting water resources in an alarming way.