A total of 46.76 lakh saplings have been planted on the banks of 40 rivers under the River Bank Tree Plantation programme in Chhattisgarh in the last four years.
An official communiqué on Monday said 4,321 hectares of river bank have been transformed with fruit-bearing and flowering plants, making the space aesthetically pleasing.
The plantation has been done by Forest Department using CAMPA and departmental funds.
The rivers covered include Shivnath, Indravati, Phulakdei, Kendai, Lilagar, Mahanadi, Hasdeo, Agar, Rihand, Meghanala, Jhinka, Kelo, Moran, Sondhur, Ib, Pairi, Tandula, Narangi, Banki, Galphula, Neur, Kewai, Khatambar, Bhaisun, Chundi, Bhawai, Banas, Rampa and Bhulu.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, V. Srinivasa Rao, said that in 2019, 9.14 lakh saplings were planted in 831 hectares.
Similarly, in 2020, 8.77 lakh saplings were planted in 845 hectares, 17.87 lakh saplings in 1,647 hectares in 2021 and 11 lakh saplings were planted in 999 hectares in 2022.
Employment of 9.63 lakh human days was created through this plantation work. Also, people of 372 villages directly benefited.
