Over seven crore saplings will be planted during Hariyali Mahotsav-2014 in the State. The Forest Department will be the nodal department in the plantation campaign through public participation to be led by the Collector in every district.
Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa has issued directives to all collectors and commissioners in this regard. The State Government has fixed target of sapling plantation for all 51 districts in the State during current rainy season.
It has been said in the directives that all works pertaining to plantation on forest land will be done by the Forest Department while the concerned collector will select non-forest land like that of college, school, Government departments, public revenue land etc with the cooperation of the Divisional Forest Officer. The Chief Secretary said that the non-forest land selected for the purpose should not only be easily accessible but its protection and maintenance should also be easy.
Saplings for plantation will be transported to plantation site from Forest Department nurseries three days before plantation. The Forest Department will transport saplings to be planted on forest land and non-forest public land and the concerned departments will transport saplings to be planted on Government land. The concerned person will transport saplings to be planted on private land.
The cost of saplings to be planted on forest land will be borne by the Forest Department. Departments, institutions, bodies and private persons will bear the cost of saplings to be planted by them. Two officers-employees each of departments other than Forest Department have been nominated for physical verification of plantation.