17.1.17

50 crore more trees for Maharashtra

Encouraged by the successful planting of 2 crore trees last year, the Maharashtra government has now set a more ambitious target of planting 50 crore trees across the state over the next three years.

The state forest department will plant 40 crore saplings, local bodies like gram panchayats will plant 9.5 crore trees, and the rest by various participating NGOs. The trees will be planted at government and court premises, charitable commissioner offices at district and state level, and temple towns like Shirdi, Pandharpur and Shegaon.

Geo-tapping method will be used to plant the saplings. Soil testing of the areas where trees are to be planted will be done. The proposed planting places will be demarcated by March 31, 2017. Respective government offices will be responsible to maintain a surviving ratio of 70 to 80 per cent. Currently, Maharashtra has about 20 per cent green cover against the required 33.5 per cent. Of the 307 lakh hectares, only 61.35 lakh ha are under green cover. 

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