Shimla, May 1 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has said the state government would seek early release of Rs.277 crore for afforestation, an official statement Wednesday said.

The money is lying with the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority of India (CAMPA).

"The chief minister directed officials concerned to represent to the central government for the release of amount deposited erroneously by the Ministry of Defence with CAMPA as the cost of trees under its projects executed in the state," the statement here said.

Presiding over a review meeting of the state forest department here Tuesday, the chief minister had said that other pending issues such as continuation of the regional office in Chandigarh for the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearances, and approval to chilgoza pine plantation project of Rs.10 crore and sea-buckthorn project of Rs.35 crore would also be taken up with the central ministries concerned.

He directed forest officials to lay emphasis on afforestation to increase the green cover in the state.