MAHARASHTRA EXCISE OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ANALYSIS

Document Type: Government Resolution (शासन पत्र) / Administrative Circular

Reference Number: MIS 0516/Pr.Kr.96/RAUSHU-1, dated 22 February 2017

Issued By: Government of Maharashtra, Home Department (गृह विभाग), Mantralaya, Mumbai-400 032

Effective Date: 22 February 2017 (From date of publication)

SUMMARY

This Government Resolution addresses a 50-crore tree plantation program for the period 2017-2019, to be executed across all departments of Maharashtra State Government, including the State Excise Department (राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क विभाग). The initiative aims to mitigate global warming, climate change, and seasonal variations through large-scale afforestation. The State Excise Department has been assigned specific tree plantation targets and is required to coordinate planning, implementation, monitoring, and maintenance activities. The resolution appoints the Additional Commissioner of State Excise as the Nodal Control Officer and mandates quarterly reporting on tree survival rates (minimum 90%) to senior forest officials.

KEY PROVISIONS

Program Structure & Objectives

• Duration: 3 years (2017-2019)
• Total Target: 50 crore (500 million) trees
• Composition:
  • Forest Department: 28.50 crore trees (75% of program target, excluding State Excise allocation)
  • Other Departments: 9.50 crore trees (25%)
  • Gram Panchayats: 12 crore trees
  • Total: 38 crore + 12 crore (Gram Panchayats) = 50 crore trees

Year-wise Targets for All Participating Departments

State Excise Department Allocation

The State Excise Department (राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क विभाग) has been assigned the following year-wise plantation targets:

Total State Excise Department allocation: 37,500 + 1,25,000 + 3,12,500 = 4,75,000 trees (0.475 crore)

ADMINISTRATIVE & OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVES

1. Nodal Officer Appointment & Coordination Structure

• Appointing Authority: Additional Commissioner, State Excise Department
• Designation: Controlling Officer (नियंत्रक अधिकारी) for the program
• Coordination Levels Required:
  • Departmental/Regional level
  • District level
  • Taluka level
  • Nodal Officers must be appointed at each level within the State Excise Department

2. Flexibility in Target Execution (Clause 2)

• Nodal Officers must exercise flexibility in meeting year-wise and district-wise targets based on:
  • Monsoon forecast and rainfall patterns for each year
  • Variation in rainfall onset across different regions (generally after 15 June)
  • Departmental and district-specific conditions

3. Detailed Planning & Implementation Requirements (Clause 3)

The following shall be executed per the Government Resolution of Revenue & Forest Department dated 10 October 2016:

1. Micro-planning (सूक्ष्म आराखडा तयार करणे) for each year
2. Site identification with co-ordinates: Latitude and Longitude mapping
3. Pit Digging: Pit holes to be prepared as per specifications
4. Plantation Period: June-July planting as per calendar
5. Real-Time Reporting (प्रत्यक्षदर्शी अहवाल) – ongoing field reports during plantation
6. Maintenance & Care – long-term upkeep post-plantation

4. Nursery & Seedling Sourcing (Clause 4)

Plants must be sourced from:

• Forest Department nurseries (वनविभाग)
• MGNREGA nurseries (महात्मा गांधी राष्ट्रीय रोजगार हमी योजना)
• State Agriculture Department (कृषि विभाग)
• Rojgar Hami Yojana (रोजगार हमी योजना) nurseries
• Van Mahotsav (वन महोत्सव) schemes – plants available at concessional rates
• Specifications: Seedlings must be:
  • Of sufficient height and quality
  • Disease-free and robust
  • Adequate in quantity for allocation

Nodal Officers for Seedling Coordination:

• District Level: Sub-Conservator, Social Forestry Department
• Taluka Level: Plantation Officer (Forest Range Officer – वनक्षेत्रपाल)
• District Level: Deputy Conservator, Social Forestry Department

5. Labour & Workforce Management (Clause 6)

• Labourers must be identified and engaged in advance
• Adequate workforce must be available on plantation day
• Sufficient manpower to plant all trees as per daily targets

6. Participation & Community Engagement (Clause 7)

The implementing mechanism shall include:

• Departmental machinery
• Private sector organizations
• Non-governmental organisations (अशासकीय संस्था)
• Volunteer participation: Students, citizens, volunteers, and NGOs shall be mobilized for plantation activities

7. Political & Civic Leadership (Clause 8)

Seek guidance and symbolic participation from:

• Minister (पालक मंत्री)
• Local Members of Legislative Assembly (आमदार)
• Members of Parliament (खासदार)
• Other public representatives
• Distinguished personalities
• Panchayat officials

8. Long-term Maintenance & Survival Rate (Clause 9)

Critical Requirement:

• Minimum Tree Survival Rate: 90% (नव्वद टक्के)
• Activities to ensure survival:
  • Irrigation & water supply (पाणीपुरवठा)
  • Protection from grazing animals (जनावरांपासून संरक्षण)
  • Fencing (biological/wire/plastic) (तारांचे/प्लास्टीक कुंपन)
  • Permanent maintenance arrangements (कायम स्वरूपी देखभाल)
  • Weeding, mulching, & care (निगा, जोपासना, संगोपन)

9. Quarterly Reporting on Survival Rates (Clause 9)

Reporting Authority: Additional Commissioner, State Excise Department

To be submitted to (through District Collector & Revenue Officer):

1. Principal Chief Forest Conservator (Forest Wing Chief) – नागपूर
2. Secretary (Forests) – महाराष्र शासन

Reporting Format:

• Form specified in Annexure-2 (विवरणपत्र-२)
• Quarterly intervals throughout 2017-2019

Information to Include:

• District name
• Plantation sites selected
• Number of seedlings received
• Number of seedlings planted (with date)
• Number of surviving trees & survival percentage
• Machinery/organizations participating

FINANCIAL & FUND MANAGEMENT

Cost Coverage (Clause 5)

• Primary Funding: Approved budget allocations (मंजूर तरतुदी) of State Excise Department
• Supplementary Provision: Where funds are insufficient, the Forest & Social Forestry Department will provide free seedlings (मोफत रोपे)
• Records: Proper documentation of free seedlings received from Forest Department

Reporting of Expenditure & Seedling Procurement

Information on expenditure and free seedlings received shall be reported to:

1. Principal Chief Forest Conservator (Forest Wing Chief), Maharashtra, Nagpur
2. Secretary (Forests)
3. State Excise Department (separately)

REPORTING & MONITORING FRAMEWORK

Reporting Forms (Annexures)

विवरणपत्र-१ (Annexure-1): Online Format for Tree Plantation

Two components:

A. PIT DIGGING REPORT (खड्डे तयारीचा अहवाल)

B. PLANTING REPORT (रोपण अहवाल)

Linking: Data must be linked with pit-digging reports.

विवरणपत्र-२ (Annexure-2): Quarterly Survival Rate Report

To be submitted quarterly (त्रैमासिक) for years 2017-2019

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS & PRIOR APPROVALS

The following Government Resolutions & Circulars are referenced as authorizing framework:

WHO IS AFFECTED

Primary Affected Entity:

• State Excise Department (राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क विभाग) – All offices and premises

Secondary Affected Entities:

• All superintendents and divisional offices of State Excise
• District-level State Excise offices
• Taluka-level State Excise officers

Implementing Authorities:

• Nodal Control Officer: Additional Commissioner, State Excise Department
• Divisional Nodal Officers: At departmental/regional level
• District Nodal Officers: At district level
• Taluka Nodal Officers: At taluka level

Coordination Partners:

• Forest & Social Forestry Department (मुख्य वनसंरक्षक)
• Revenue Department (District Collectors & Revenue Officers)
• District Administration
• Gram Panchayats
• Agriculture Department
• NGOs & voluntary organizations

IMPORTANT NOTES, CONDITIONS & SPECIAL PROVISIONS

Exemptions & Flexibility

1. Geographic Flexibility: Targets may be adjusted based on:

   • Annual rainfall patterns
   • Monsoon forecast for each region
   • State-specific and district-specific variations in rainfall onset
   • Seasonal constraints in different districts

2. Funding Relief: Where allocated funds are insufficient, the Forest Department will provide free seedlings (no cost to State Excise Department).

Performance Standards

1. Survival Rate Mandate:

   • Minimum 90% tree survival rate (नव्वद टक्के जिवंत राहणे)
   • Long-term maintenance responsibility

2. Reporting Compliance:

   • Real-time field reports during plantation
   • Quarterly survival rate reports (त्रैमासिक अहवाल)
   • Reports to be filed with District Collector, Revenue Officer, and Forest Department

Historical Context & Precedent

• One-tree-day initiative (01 July 2016): 2.82 crore trees planted in a single day across Maharashtra
• Guinness World Record: Recognized by Limca Book of Records (लिम्का बुक ऑफ रेकॉर्ड्स)
• Continuity: This 50-crore program is designed to sustain momentum post-2016

Digital Publication & Accessibility

• Website: www.maharashtra.gov.in
• Reference Code: 201702221309156129
• Signature: Digitally signed by Sh. D.J. Shedmakhe, Section Officer, Home Department

DISTRIBUTION & IMPLEMENTATION ORDERS

Distributed to (प्रत) :

1. Chief Secretary, General Administration Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai
2. Additional Chief Secretary, State Excise Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai
3. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mantralaya, Mumbai
4. Secretary (Forests), Revenue & Forest Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai
5. Commissioner, State Excise, Maharashtra State, Mumbai
6. Principal Chief Forest Conservator (Forest Wing Chief), Maharashtra State, Nagpur
7. Principal Chief Forest Conservator (Social Forestry), Maharashtra State, Pune
8. All Divisional Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents & Deputy Superintendents, State Excise (through Commissioner, State Excise)
9. Selected officials file (RAUSHU-1)

LICENSES/DEPARTMENTS AFFECTED

This document does NOT affect:

• Liquor licenses (FL-I, FL-II, FL-III, FL-IV)
• Country Liquor licenses (CL-I, CL-II, CL-III)
• Toddy/Neera permits
• Manufacturing permits
• Any excise revenue-related provisions

RELEVANT ONLY TO:

• State Excise Department Administrative & Corporate Social Responsibility activities (tree plantation program)
• Not a revenue, licensing, or taxation document

CONCLUSION

This is a Departmental Environmental Stewardship Resolution requiring the State Excise Department to participate in Maharashtra's 50-crore tree plantation initiative (2017-2019) as part of broader state climate action. The directive mandates structured planning, community engagement, quarterly reporting, and a minimum 90% tree survival rate, with flexibility in execution based on regional rainfall patterns and seasonal variations.