NAGPUR, Dec 23: The Maharashtra Forests Minister Ganesh Naik has proposed floating of bonds to collect public money to strengthen the state's afforestation programme. "If the people can invest in irrigation bonds, they will do so in forest bonds too," is his logic.

Naik told the State Legislative Assembly today that he plans to put before the cabinet a proposal to issue Forest Bonds. He was responding to discussions on the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) (Amendment) Bill. The Bill was passed unanimously by the House. The bill was introduced in the House to further amend the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition), Act of 1975.

The Government, Naik said, is hard-pressed with its finances. Also, the period of the World Bank-aided forestry project of the Forests Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) will end in September 1998. Thus, a need for huge finances will arise in order to maintain the momentum of the state's afforestation drive.

He observed that vast tracts of land are available with state departments of Forests and Revenue. The Forest Department has 17.5 lakh hectares of barren land and the Revenue Department has 10 lakh hectares, all over the state.

The minister's argument follows the route that just as some private companies have drawn large sums of money from the public through investments in plantations, the Government can very well operate forestry projects financed by money raised through public issue of bonds. He believed the people would be more than willing to invest if the Government stands guarantee to the redemption of their bonds.

The minister added that using this money, the government might also build dams to provide water for barren lands. Since, the dams would be directly helping afforestation, it would be easier to get the Centre's environmental clearance for such projects, felt Naik. Then, of course, the extra water from the projects could also be used for irrigation or to generate hydro-electricity.

In response to a suggestion by a member, Naik said, it would not be possible to permit cultivation of cash crops on forest land. At the same time, he said, care would be taken that the people of forest-dominated regions like Vidarbha and Thane area alone would not bear the burden of nurturing the forests.

On the question of leading actors and sportspersons having built farm houses on forest land, the minister said, the matter was sub-judice. Yet, he assured, that nobody would be unduly harassed.