Chhattisgarh chalks out plans to increase its green cover

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests  and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar and Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday launched ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh Afforestation Campaign 2015’ by planting saplings at the Botanical  Gardens here.The Chhattisgarh Government has embarked upon an ambitious plan to spread green forest cover by planting ten crore saplings this year. On the auspicious occasion of the first day of ‘Shravan' month, about two crore saplings had been planted in all the 27 districts.

The ‘Afforestation’ Programme  is being carried on a massive scale in the entire State. There is a proposal  to plant ten lakh saplings at the Botanical Gardens in Naya Raipur, officials stated. The first sapling ‘Kalp Vruksh’ of the ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh’ campaign was named after Bharat Ratna former President (late) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam .

‘Kalp-Vruksha’ sapling was planted by Union Minister Prakash Jawadekar.Chief Minister Raman Singh planted 'Rudraksh' sapling while  State Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda, leader of Opposition in State Assembly TS Singh Deo , Raipur District Panchayat Chairperson  Sharda  Verma, Raipur Municipal Corporation Mayor Pramod Dubey , State Co-operative Bank (Apex Bank) Chairman Ashok Bajaj and  a number of  corporators and citizens participated in the massive afforestation programme.

Beijing Olympics medal winner Susheel Kumar was also present as a special guest.Saplings were planted at all the Chhattisgarh Municipal Corporations' 300 gardens in the entire State.About 500 varieties of saplings were planted at the Naya Raipur Botanical Gardens located in front of the Jungle Safari spread over 416 acres. It will be one of the largest Gardens in South Asia.

The Gram Panchayats of Naya Raipur-Nawagaon,  Kandwa,  Uparwara,  Bhelwadih, Nimora, Kurru and Development Block Abhanpur and students of various schools, colleges and universities in Raipur participated enthusiastically in the greening of nature.Bharat Scouts and Guides and National Social Service students, Ravishankar Shukla, Sanskrit University, Salem School students, Nova Nature Club, Chhattisgarh Horticulture Society, Rotary Club members and various social organizations took part in the programme.

Chief Secretary  Vivek  Dhand , Director General of Police (DGP) A N Upadhyaya, Principal Secretary, Forest Department,  R P Mandal and Chief Conservator of Forests A A Bohaj and senior Forest Department officers were present on the occasion.The Union Minister appreciated the people's participation in the State-wide Afforestation mission and Chief Minister Raman Singh’s efforts. Javadekar was speaking after participating in the 'Hariyar Chhattisgarh Afforestation Campaign-2015' at the Botanical Gardens in Naya Raipur.

He said plans are afoot to plant two crore saplings in the entire State today and  five lakh in the capital. The target is to plant ten crore saplings during the entire mission.Javadekar said he had seen many types of campaigns but this is the first time he is witnessing such a campaign.The Union Minister said that trees are precious gifts of Nature to mankind and said trees are lifeline of human beings as they provide  oxygen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day gave a call to plant 125 crore saplings in the entire country. There are about two-and-half-crore citizens in Chhattisgarh but they have an ambitious plans to plant ten crore saplings, the Union Minister said.He said that there is a lot of enthusiasm in the rest of the country also. The people should consider trees also as their property like they do so in case of houses, T.V.s , vehicles and protect them. The Central Government had set apart about `98,000 crores and  gave a clarion call for a ‘Clean India-Green India’, he said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh said that Chhattisgarh is the first State in the country to implement 'Harit-Bharat' mission of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi.  As long as trees are there, there is prosperity and peace. If there is no greenery there is no human life.Singh said that  the citizens of Chhattisgarh alone will plant ten crore saplings in the near future. The Chief Minister while addressing thousands of students from various colleges said when they grow up and become doctors, engineers and collectors they can visit the Botanical Gardens and feel at peace when they see trees.

He said mangoes, tamarind and Mahua saplings are being planted here at the Gardens. Our daughters savour Tamarind. They will feel happy when they will visit here in times to come. Mahua palnts have a special place in the hearts of Chhattisgarhis.  Mahua flowers and fragrance make human beings exhilarating, he said.

Singh said that afforestation programme is being carried on 1200 acres of land in the Jungle Safari and Botanical Gardens. The Jungle Safari will be ready next year.lions, Bears, Cheetah and other wild animals will be reared in the natural habitat. Trees are necessary for the preservation and protection of environment. Children will be excited and attracted towards   Jungle Safari, Singh said.

leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Assembly TS Singhdeo appreciated the 'Harihar Chhattisgarh' Mission and said Greenery is necessary for the survival of human race. About one  lakh saplings were planted at the Botanical Gardens.Earlier, in the inaugural programme of 'Hariyar Chhattisgarh Mega Plantation Drive 2015' organized at Naya Raipur based Botanical Garden, the Union Minister released 'Forest Atlas' published by State Government's Forest Department. 

This geo-referenced forest atlas covers the natural forest resources of Chhattisgarh along with the depiction of river-valley areas, forest division-wise classification of soil, geographical condition and depth of water-bodies, non-wooden forest produce, bamboo producing area, and rich biodiversity of the State. 

This atlas will prove beneficial in designing action plan for development and management of forests. Wildlife conservation area and proposed elephant corridor has also been shown in the atlas. The information related to State's forest cover has been collected from Forest Survey of India Institute's digital data of 50,000 scale, and database available in Chhattisgarh. The entire atlas is based on the formal and verified records and documents. 

More than 5,000 students of various government and private schools of Raipur city enthusiastically participated in the plantation programme. Besides, students from Hidayatulla National law University, National Institute of Technology, Pt Ravishankar Shukla University and other educational institutes also took part in this mega-drive.

Moreover, people from social service organizations such as Rotary Club, lions Club, JCI, Prajapita Bramhakumari Ashram and other prominent citizens also actively participated in the programme.