Acting on the directions of the chief minister, the forest department is keen to give a ‘greener’ look to the state this year. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in his meeting with the forest department officers in March had issued directions to raise green belts in districts to compensate the colossal loss of trees in the state for various development and construction projects in the last few years. The forest department has identified about 270 sites for raising green belts in various districts. The green belts have to be raised over a minimum of five hectares in rural area and not less than two hectare in cities. About 625 trees will be planted per hectare. Considering the fact that it will be difficult to find vacant sites in cities, the scheme lays more emphasis on rural plantation. The criterion has also been fixed for roadside plantation. The green belts along roads have to be at least 2-kilometrelong and 10 metre wide on both the sides of the road. “The area can be more than this. This is the minimum that districts have to plant,” said an official of the forest department.
Every district will have to identify some three to four such sites where plantation could be done for raising green belts. Such a scheme has been planned by the department for the first time. And, plantation for raising green belts might begin on June 5, the World Environment Day.The officers at the divisional level are carrying out physical verification of the identified sites to find out if the chosen sites will be fit for plantation. Besides, to ensure the high survival rate of the plantation done, department has issued directions to plant only 8 feet to 12 feet long saplings. The smaller saplings are eaten away by animals, most of the times. There are also specifications issued for the types of species to be planted. Local species have to be planted extensively. Besides, the varieties planted should be decorative, easily found and shade-bearing trees.
Not only this, at every plantation site, department will have to erect a board reading out the details of the scheme to all and sundry. In order to give the scheme a people-connect, department will encourage plantation in green belts by people, to mark occasions like ‘Van Mahotsav’ on July 1.
Every district will have to identify some three to four such sites where plantation could be done for raising green belts. Such a scheme has been planned by the department for the first time. And, plantation for raising green belts might begin on June 5, the World Environment Day.The officers at the divisional level are carrying out physical verification of the identified sites to find out if the chosen sites will be fit for plantation. Besides, to ensure the high survival rate of the plantation done, department has issued directions to plant only 8 feet to 12 feet long saplings. The smaller saplings are eaten away by animals, most of the times. There are also specifications issued for the types of species to be planted. Local species have to be planted extensively. Besides, the varieties planted should be decorative, easily found and shade-bearing trees.
Not only this, at every plantation site, department will have to erect a board reading out the details of the scheme to all and sundry. In order to give the scheme a people-connect, department will encourage plantation in green belts by people, to mark occasions like ‘Van Mahotsav’ on July 1.
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