FOREST DEPT SETS TARGET TO PLANT 6.5 CR SAPLINGS

Van mahotsav, the annual plantation drive of state forest department will begin from July 1. The total target during the entire monsoon season has been extended to 6.5 crore plants, which is 1.5 crore more than the previous year.

As per the plan, the forest department will get the lion’s share of 4.3 crore saplings and the remaining will be divided among several departments.

The selection of plant species remains the same as was done in the previous years. Plants are selected keeping in view the soil quality and the average rainfall that an area gets annually.

The plant species are Pakar, Bargad, Kanji, Mahua and Peepal. Fruit-bearing plants will also get space wherever possible particularly in areas near the river and west UP.

Uttar Pradesh holds the record of planting 5 crore plants in 24-hours and the department has been conducting beating up rounds to maintain a high survival rate.

Apart from routine plantation, Nakshatra Vaikas will be developed in each district of Uttar Pradesh during the plantation campaign to be carried out during monsoon.

The plantation will start in July and involve people to develop Nakshatra Vatika and Navgrah Vatika, considered to be auspicious. There are 27 trees that have names of Nakshatras such as Ashwani Nakshatra to Kuchila, Bharini to Aawla, Pusya to Peepal tree, Magha to Banyan tree.

The Navgrah have trees associated such as Sun for Aak tree, Moon for Dhak and Brihaspati for Peepal.