Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday asked officials to use social media as a tool to gather evidence of number of saplings planted by taking pictures of various plantation programmes for the 'Hariyar Chhattisgarh' campaign in the monsoon season.
This would help in reviewing the progress of work on the campaign ahead of the next ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh’ campaign, he said while chairing a review meeting to know the preparations being made for the campaign this year.
The Chief Minister also called upon the officials to conduct third party audit in the afforestation drive of last year. He called upon the Forest Department officials to develop 400 nurseries for
varieties of species of plants. Singh said that industrialists should encourage tree plantations on their premises so that pollution levels come down manageable levels and stressed upon the planting of 'Peepal' and preservation of this species for the welfare of nature and mankind.
He added that campaign had been launched to plant 25,000 saplings under the 'Peepal for People' in the capital city. 'Peepal' tree provides oxygen 24 hours.
The Chief Minister directed the Forest Department and Horticulture Department to distribute fruits' bearing saplings to the citizens free of charge.
People should be encouraged to plant neem, mangoes, 'katahal', amla, bel, papaya, munga in their backyards and other open spaces, he said.
Singh said that Bilaspur exports 'Munga' worth Rs 2.25 crore to West Bengal every year. The growing of ‘Munga’ can be fetching for farmers and common citizens also.
He also called upon the officials to develop ‘Oxyzones’ in various districts, Tehsils and development blocks on Government vacant land.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to distribute saplings at the Collectorate, Janpad Panchayat office premises, Tehsil offices and Forest Departments from July 1 to August 15.
Solar pumps can be installed at every five hectares of land for providing water to the saplings, Singh said.The growth of bamboo trees in Surguja division is very encouraging. Stress should be laid on planting bamboo saplings in the division, the Chief Minister said.
The Forest Department officials said that 8.89 crore saplings had been planted last year. The target is to plant 8.90 crore saplings, he said.
Notably, the Central Government had approved 20,716 hectares of land for afforestation drive in Chhattisgarh during the last financial year under ‘Green India Mission’.
The funds released by the Centre for the afforestation programme amounts to Rs 17.39 crore during the last financial year, officials informed.
During 2015-16, the Centre had approved the same quantum of land (20,716 hectares) for afforestation with fund allocation of Rs 23.39 crore.
The students, officials and employees of various universities, colleges will also plant one lakh saplings in the current year as a part of the 'Hariyar Chhattisgarh Mission', officials had informed.
The Higher Education Department officials said that as per the wishes and directives of Chief Minister Raman Singh, the target is to carry out plantations in all the universities and colleges in the current academic session.
A circular had been issued to all the Vice-Chancellors of universities and Principals of various colleges.
A minimum of 500 saplings have to be planted in each educational institution under the ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh Mission’.
The State Government has planted around 61,83,000 saplings at an expenditure of Rs 13.73 crore, officials stated.
A total of 35,55,000 saplings were prepared with va budget of Rs 5.58 crore at the nursery level.
Panchayat and Rural Development Department officials said 5,183 activities are sanctioned for planting saplings on the roadsides under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
The Government has fixed a budget of over Rs 111 crore for planting 10 lakh saplings under the plan. Similar targets have been made at the nursery and block plantation levels.
As many as 8.25 crore saplings have been planted under the campaign till September 2015. It was around 85,000 more than the target of the Forest Department, officials stated.
Notably, Chief Minister Raman Singh had urged each citizen to plant atleast four saplings in the ongoing greening exercise. It sums up to planting 10 crore saplings by the present population of 2.5 crore across the State.
Moreover, Chief Minister Raman Singh had accorded in-principle approval for formation of a separate ‘Tree Plantation Forest Circle’ under Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA in 2015-16 for ensuring organised plantation work in the new capital.
Singh had stated in a meeting that Naya Raipur is being developed in an area of 237 square kilometres and it is necessary that the people living in the new capital would need a green environment.
It is our priority to develop Naya Raipur as a 'Green City', he had stated. During the meeting, the scientists from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru made a presentation to suggest ways of greening Naya Raipur.
The Chief Minister also had held discussions with the scientists and the NRDA officials on preparing an action plan for the greening project for the new administrative capital. The scientists making the presentation in the meeting said that Naya Raipur which is being developed as the city of the 21st century would be unique in the sense that the green belt, botanical garden and the Ecopark would be under a single umbrella.
They had also suggested developing green patches in the residential zones. Singh had also directed the Forest Department officials to come out with an elaborate action plan for an intensive plantation drive to be taken up in the entire State under Hariyar Chhattisgarh (Green Chhattisgarh) drive before arrival of monsoons.