Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The state willsoon have a dedicated government establishment to explore business opportunities for different forest yields.The Maharashtra Forest Industrial Development Corporation (MFIDC) will come up on the line of the existing Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and is expected to play a pivotal role in harnessing a wide range of forest products.A Government Resolution (GR) by the forest department on November 17 has announced the formation of a multi-member advisory committee for giving shape to the MFIDC.One of the main focus areas of the upcoming body would be the Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), which include fruits and nuts, vegetables, medicinal plants, resins, essences and a range of barks and fibres. The MFIDC would also give priority to raising furniture clusters involving bamboo.Deputy secretary of the forest department, Vivek Hoshing, said Maharashtra has a forest area of 61,907 square kilometres, accounting for nearly 20% of the geographical area of the state.The advisory committee formed by the government will develop a planning strategy for raising the MFIDC. The panel will also explore different funding options that can be explored from the schemes of the centre and the state, Hoshing said, in the aforesaid GR. The seven-member advisory committee is led by MLA Ashish Jaiswal from Vidarbha and is represented by authorities from the forest department and subject experts.We also published the following articles recentlyTigress kills farmer near Dudhwa forest, capturedA 30-year-old farmer was killed by a tigress in Basukpur village of Kheri district. The tigress was captured by the forest department after being tranquilized. Locals protested and didnt allow the forest department to take the victims body for post-mortem until they were assured of compensation for the victims family. The tigress is believed to be responsible for another death in the area. Officials say the tigress strayed into human habitat as it was unable to establish its territory in the forest. Four people have been killed in tiger attacks in the area since September 29.Forest authorities seek permission to tranquilise tiger in PilibhitOfficials at the Pilibhit forest and wildlife division in Uttar Pradesh have requested permission to tranquilize a stray tiger that has been seen in the area. The tiger has been spotted near villages and fields, causing fear among the locals. The officials have installed camera traps and are collecting pictures to identify the tiger involved in recent incidents.Thunderbolt squad & Maoists exchange fire in Kannur forestA gunfight occurred between Thunderbolt commandos of the Kerala Police and Maoists in the forests near Uruppumkutty in Kannur. Eight Maoists fired at the police team, but it is unclear if any injuries were sustained. The police have registered a case against the Maoists and increased combing operations in the area. In a separate incident, the police custody of two arrested Maoists has been extended for nine more days as they are believed to have information about potential attacks on the police.

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