20 lakh saplings of different species to be planted this year

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 31: The Social Forestry Department has set a target to cover two thousand hectare area by planting about twenty lakh saplings of different species in Jammu region, including conifer plants in the districts of Poonch and Doda, during the current year.
The department has produced 26 lakh plants in its 43 nurseries developed at various places of the region which are being distributed among the people, besides taking up plantation on its own on degenerated forest areas. The department has also been taking up plantation along National Highways, irrigation canals, railway lines and in and around educational institutions.
The information was given at a meeting convened to review physical and financial achievements registered across the region under various schemes, including CAMPA, with the Minister for Forests and Environment, Main Altaf Ahmed in the chair.
The meeting was attended by Director Social Forestry Hafizullah Siddique, Regional Director Social Forestry A K Gupta, besides all Divisional Forest Officers of Social Forestry Department of Jammu region.
The meeting was informed that last year the department planted as many as 16 lakh plants in the region through its various divisions, besides involvement of the public. It was said that about 7 lakh plants were provided to the farmers for plating the same in their open spaces. The Department planted a total of 15.45 lakh plants under various schemes, including CAMPA thereby covering 1860 hectare area.
Reviewing the achievements in various divisions of the region, the Minister called for maximum involvement of the public in the plantation drive. He specifically stressed for involving the local Panchayat representatives and said that public involvement was imperative for optimum results on the ground.