Under the Vindhya Region Green Belt Scheme, about 1.64 crore saplings will be planted in 100 villages of Rewa district by year 2020.
Total cost of plantation will be Rs 66.13 crore. Under this ambitious forest expansion scheme, 37.25 lakh saplings have already been planted on 1680 hectares at a cost of Rs 11 crore so far. During current year, about 7.38 lakh saplings have been planted on 405 hectares.
During the 10-year scheme till year 2020, as many as 1.27 crore saplings will be planted on 7,300 hectares. Saplings will be mainly of commercial trees like teak, bamboo, Khamner, aonla, clonal eucalyptus (Nilgiri) and of mixed species.
Public Relations, Energy, New and Renewable Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Rajendra Shukla has always kept all-round development of Rewa among his top priorities. This forest expansion scheme has been implemented since year 2010 under this series. His dream projects include Mukundpur white tiger safari, four-lane road from Chakghat to Allahabad and Hanumana to Benaras and establishment of world’s biggest 750 MW solar power plant at Gurh.
It is noteworthy that Vindhya Region Green Belt Schemes started due to efforts by Shukla. Total 9500 hectares in Rewa district has been transferred to Forest Development Corporation’s Rewa of Sidhi Project Board. The Corporation implemented the scheme by planting saplings in forest areas near 100 villages in Rewa district’s Mauganj, Tyonthar, Hanumana, Nai Garhi and Raipur Karchuliyan development blocks.
Through it, local people will get 60,000 mandays worth employment. During entire period of the scheme, about 5.40 lakh mandays worth employment will be generated. Environment will be improved by covering hills with greenery and area’s ground water level will also rise.