Jamshedpur, Nov. 18: Jharkhand is again in the spotlight for its rich forest cover.

This time, the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, has chosen the state for its natural resources management programme. Under the programme, experts from IIFM will assist the state authorities in the implementation of a forest project.

Besides Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have also been selected in the first phase of the year-long exercise. The work is expected to begin by end of this month. Experts from the IIFM shall work in two districts in each of the three states for the project.

The institute has selected East Singhbhum and Ranchi districts for the project. Senior professor of IIFM, H.S. Gupta, heading the panel of experts , told The Telegraph that the programme aims to guide the states in implementing projects involving forests. ?Experience has shown that many projects are stalled midway due to mismanagement. Our programme will cover irrigation, drinking water and social forestry projects. ?IIFM experts will visit the areas to find the reasons for the stalled projects. We will also talk to the local residents and the government officials ,? Gupta said.

After that, the forest management institute will conduct a series of seminars, group discussions and meetings between officials and local residents. NGOs and individuals concerned too will have to participate in the seminars and meetings. ?Workshops and seminars are necessary to ensure that the projects are heading in the right direction. If we find that there is a need to give adequate compensation to the oustees, we would recommend it to the state government,? Gupta added. Once the entire process is completed, the IIFM will give a comprehensive report to the three state governments on how to tackle the problems.

?If such projects are funded by external agencies like World Bank or the Centre, we would give copies of our recommendations to them. There will be complete transparency in our exercise,? Gupta said. Although the IIFM is yet to decide on the projects it would assist, Gupta hinted that the stalling of Subarnarekha Multi-Purpose Project (SMP) would be taken up during the exercise.

The senior IIFM professor cited the SMP example on how mega-projects in Jharkhand hit a roadblock due to various reasons.Though the project was launched in 1987 with World Bank assistance, it is yet to be completed. World Bank has already washed its hands of the project.

Gupta said the reason behind the non-completion of the SMP is the persisting conflict between forest department and the SMP officials.

Gupta said, ?There had been a constant conflict between them as the ambitious project was to pass through the forest area and as the forest officials had to ensure that the forest laws were not violated. Had there been efforts to tackle these problems, the project would have been completed by now.?