Deb said that forest dwellers and people at large have faced problems to access forest resources due to soil erosion caused by massive degradation of forestlands. The new project has got provisions to built 1,447 check dams in hilly terrains of Tripura. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb Wednesday launched a project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management at State Forest Academy Ground in Hatipara in West Tripura and said the project would help develop the quality of forestlands and livelihood of forest dwellers in the state. Advertising The project is jointly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Government of India. “JICA is providing us Rs. 1,000 crores for a span of 10 years to improve forestlands in targeted catchment areas of Tripura. This will involve sustainable forest management, soil and moisture conservation and livelihood development”, Chief Minister Deb said at the inaugural event this afternoon. Eighty per cent of the project would be funded by JICA while Government of India would fund 20 per cent of the project value.