An ‘Eco forest’ will be established on the non-arable land on the banks of rivers in the religious and cultural cities of Rajim and Shivrinarayan through ‘Campa Fund’ in the State. Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, at the State Campa Working Committee meeting held here on Wednesday, directed the Forest Department officers to prepare a detailed project for it.In the meeting, Rs1.44 crore from the ‘Campa Interest Fund’ has been approved for establishment of ‘Paryavaran Vatika’ at Oxivan at Dongariguda in Kondagaon district of Bastar. The Chief Secretary asked the forest officers to get a detailed project report prepared by specialists for the ‘Eco forest’ at Rajim and Shivrinarayan from the interest accrued from the Campa Fund. In-principle sanction for Rs5 lakh each has been accorded for the preparation of detailed project report. He discussed in detail on the approval of different development works, local employees and their housing and transportation facilities from the State Campa Fund and its interest. In-principle approval has been given for taking service of project management consultant for different construction works. In the meeting, the re-appropriation proposal for levelling administrative sector and parking and electrification in the under-construction Jungle Safari in Naya Raipur has been approved. Financial power of officers of Forest Department has been increased for the construction works sanctioned under the Camp fund by inviting open tender. Now, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest is empowered to sanction construction works up to Rs5 crore, Chief Conservator of Forest Rs1 crore, Conservator of Forest Rs75 lakh and Divisional Forest Officer Rs40 lakh through open tender. Member Secretary of Chhattisgarh State Campa VK Sinha said that a ‘Tissue Culture Lab’ was being established under the State Forest Research and Training Institution Raipur. Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department, Ajay Singh, Principal Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Department MK Raut, Principal Secretary Forest Department RP Mandal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest AK Singh and senior officers of forest department were present in the meeting.