Jamshedpur, March 20: The forest department has decided to resume work on the sericulture project in the Samta range of Saranda forest.

Work on the project had received a setback after the massacre at Manoharpur in extremist-ravaged Saranda forest, where 19 policemen were ambushed.

Forest authorities have earmarked 125 hectares of land in Samta range for the project. The forest department plans to involve locals, who are considered to be sympathetic towards the MCC.

Divisional forest officer of Saranda H.S. Gupta told The Telegraph that the villagers of Samta range had urged the district administration to revive the sericulture projects in the area.