‘Green scheme to generate income of panchayats’

The Bharatpur district council has planned to reap benefits from the Centre’s MGNREGA scheme to control encroachment on pasture lands in rural areas to turn the barren patches green by planting fruitbearing trees and generate income for panchayats.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 9.21 crore to develop plantation on barren land in 30 panchayats in 10 blocks of the district, said district council chief executive officer Ansh Deep.

“Under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), five fruit-bearing trees will be planted in grasslands to increase green cover and generate income source of panchayats,” he said.

“Five hectare of land has been chosen in each panchayat where sapling of fruit-bearing trees like lemon, orange, guava, pomegranate, and gooseberry have been planted.”

This apart, deep bore wells will be dug to provide water to plants and caretakers will be appointed to oversee and nurse the trees with support of other panchayati raj’s schemes, he said.

“Pasture lands in villages will be turned into green patches and after the fruit-bearing trees mature panchayats will get benefits by selling the fruits,” the district council chief said.

“Save the girl child, educate the girl” scheme has been merged with rajshri upvan scheme under which parents will have to plant five trees on the occasion of their daughter’s birth in pastures across the district, Deep said.

“Under the scheme where villagers will be provided work under the MNREGA to clear the land, construct boundary wall and water plants.”