Chief Secretary Ajay Singh has set targets for all industrial units to carry out plantations under “Hariar Chhattisgarh Programme 2018” in the State.
Chairing a meeting at the Mantralaya here to discuss tree plantation on Friday, the Chief Secretary directed to plant trees especially on the road sides by industrial units.
The industrial units will also have to carry out plantations in their respective regions. The industrial units had been asked to gather details on vacant land and roads where tree plantations have to be carried out from district collectors, he said.
Notably, Chief Minister Raman Singh in the month of June last year had 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 ‘Hariar Chhattisgarh’ campaign in the monsoon season.
This would help in reviewing the progress of work on the campaign ahead of the next ‘Hariar Chhattisgarh’ campaign, he had stated while chairing a review meeting to know the preparations being made for the campaign last year .
The Chief Minister had also called upon the officials to conduct third party audit in the afforestation drive of in 2016.
He had called upon the Forest Department officials to develop 400 nurseries for various varieties of plants.
Singh had stated that industrialists should encourage tree plantations on their premises so that pollution levels come down to manageable levels and stressed upon the planting of 'Peepal' and preservation of this species for the welfare of nature and mankind.
He had 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 had directed the Forest Department and Horticulture Department to distribute fruit bearing saplings to the citizens free of charge.
People should be encouraged to plant neem, mangoes, jackfruit, amla, bel, papaya, munga in their backyards and other open spaces, he said.
Moreover, the Chief Minister 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 organized 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.