Barren hills of the State will no longer be cursed to remain barren, as forest department is only two weeks away to launch a massive plantation drive there. The plan of forestation of barren hills was conceptualised last year itself and advance works was started just after planning. Around `240 Crores are to be spent on this ambitious plan.
According to the department, advance works has already been completed during September-March of financial year 2015-16. Under this, digging pits and leveling the ground including others for plantation has been done. Now the department is ready for plantation of timber trees and some other types of shrubs from first day of July.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest YK Singh Chouhan said that a target of 2.57 crore saplings’ plantation has been set. “The department has zeroed in on some 400 sites in 24 districts of the state, where we are ready to start the second phase of the plan called completion works. This phase will be completed by September this year,” Chouhan said.
The third phase will be most important, as it will comprise of maintenance works. This will carry on for next five years. “After proper caring of five years, the plants would need almost no physical care and they will grow by themselves. That’s why maintenance works will carry on for five years.”
Chauhan said that though not much hyped, it was one among one of the most ambitious forestation plans in the State. About total area to be covered, Chauhan said that it was not specified in the plan. “We have targeted of planting 2.5 crore saplings. On an average, there will be around 1,666 timber trees in one hectare, and around 2,000 shrubs in a square kilometer. Area is not a constraint,” said Chouhan.