State government on Thursday decided to plant 7.13 crore saplings across the state under ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh’ plantation drive.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at the secretariat.
Baghel directed the officials to select places conducive for the safe growth of planted sapling.
Laying emphasis on planting fruit bearing trees in both urban and rural areas, Baghel directed the industries to ensure their active participation in the green drive.
Chief Minister directed to carry out plantation in under-construction residential colonies without fail and also undertake the water conservation related works.
He was also directed to plant fruit-bearing trees in all the ‘Gauthan’ constructed in the state. At Gurur and Dharsiwa blocks, plants, which help in recharging ground water, should be planted, he suggested.
As per the plan, the plantation will be done on banks of prominent five rivers namely Indravati, Arpa, Kharun, Sheonath and Sakri covering around 633 hectares. Additional to it, around 23,000 hectares of land around 594 rivers-rivulets, prominent and major educational institutions like IIM, IIIT, Medical College Campus Bastar, Medical College Rajnandgaon, Jungle Safari along with civic bodies will be used for plantation.
Additional Chief Secretary Forest R. P. Mandal said that plantation will be done through Forest, Forest Development Corporation and Panchayat and rural development department.
Industries were also asked to take up plantation to curb pollution generated from the industries. Forest minister Mohammed Akbar was also present in the meeting.