6.25 crore saplings planted under Hariyali Mahotsav

Bhopal: About 6 crore 26 lakh saplings have been planted under Hariyali Mahotsav in the state since June 1, 2013. Forest Department has set a target of planting 7 crore saplings during monsoon. Process is underway to plant remaining saplings. This year, importance is being given to plantation on land outside forest areas. For this, Forest Department had provided 42 lakh seeds to nurseries.

During year 2003-04, less than 2.50 crore saplings were planted under Hariyali Mahotsav for forest augmentation in the state, whereas 12 crore saplings were planted by all departments including 7 crore by Forest Department during year 2011-12. In the state, 2010 was observed as Bamboo Plantation Year, 2011 as Mahua Year and 2012 was observed as Khamer Year. During Bamboo Year, Forest and other departments planted 5 crore bamboo saplings. During Mahua Year, 13 lakh Mahua saplings grown in polythene were planted and 30 lakh seeds were sown. Apart from being staple diet of tribals, Mahua is also their source of income. During Khamer Year, 46 saplings of Khamer were planted. Khamer is a fast-growing timber tree from which farmers get handsome profit. For making easy transportation, State Government has exempted Khamer from transit pass.
Plantations keep forest cover intact
Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh has informed that plantation works used to be undertaken on low-key earlier due to lack of budget. But now plantation is being undertaken on a large scale. Now, 7 crore saplings are planted by all agencies of Forest Department alone every year. Due to this massive plantation, rate of reduction in forest cover of the state has stopped since year 2005.