India, Feb. 28 -- The state government's flagship Ladki Bahin scheme, which has been draining the state's coffers, may push the forest department to fell mature teak trees to generate funds to repay a loan it plans to take. This was stated by state forest minister Ganesh Naik in the legislative council on Friday, outlining options to raise money for his department.

"Although schemes like Ladki Bahin are affecting the finances of various government departments, they will not be shut down. That's why we have decided to monetise the department's teakwood property worth Rs.12,000 crore and use the funds to raise a Rs.6,000-crore loan for the department's expenditure," Naik told legislators.

The minister was replying to questions on the fore...