Orders social audit of last year's afforestation drive
Raipur, 13 June 2017
Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh today called upon the officials to plant as many sapplings as feasible where birds chirp and build nests during the 'Harihar Chhattisgarh' campaign. He was reviewing the 'Harihar Chhattisgarh Afforestation Mission'. He said that trees which give shades to the travelling public should be planted on the road-sides across the State. Citizens should be encouraged to plant sapplings which bear fruits and vegetables in the names of their daughters in their courtyard. Dr. Raman Singh called upon the officials to upload the photos of the sapplings on social media so that reviews could be done next year.
Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh called upon the officials to conduct third party audit in the afforestation drive of last year. He called upon the Forest Department officials to develop 400 nurseries for varieties of species of plants. Dr. Raman Singh said that industrialists should encourage tree plantations on their premises so that pollution levels come down to manageable levels. He stressed upon the planting of 'peepal' and preservation of this species for the welfare of nature and mankind.
Dr. Raman Singh added that campaign had been launched to plant 25 thousand sapplings under the 'Peepal for People' in capital city. 'Peepal' tree provides oxygen 24 hours. Chief Minister instructed the Forest Department and Horticulture Department to distribute fruits' bearing sapplings to the citizens free of charge. People should be encouraged to plant neem, mangoes, 'katahal', amla, bel, papaya, munga in their backyards and other open spaces. Dr. Raman Singh revealed that Bilaspur exports 'munga' worth Rs Two crore 25 lakh to West Bengal every year. The growing of 'munga' can be fetching for farmers and common citizens also. He also called upon the officials to develop 'Oxyzones' in various districts, tehsils and development blocks on State Government vacant land.
Chief Minister instructed the officials to distribute sapplings at collectorate, janpad panchayat office premises, tehsil offices and Forest Departments from 1 July to 15 August. Solar pumps can be installed at every five hectare for providing water to the sapplings. This can be included in the Budget. The growth of bamboo trees in Surguja division is every encouraging. Stress should be laid on planting bamboo sapplings in the division. The Forest Department officials said that eight crore 89 lakh saplings had been planted last year. The target is to plant eight crore 90 lakh sapplings. Forest Minister Mr. Mahesh Gaagda, Chief Secretary Mr. Vivek Dhand, Panchayat and Rural Development Additional Chief Secretary Mr. M. K. Raut, Industry Department Additional Chief Secretary Mr. N. Baijendra Kumar, Environment Department Principal Secretary Mr. Aman Kumar Singh, senior officials of various departments and representatives of industrial establishments were also present.
1112/Swarajya/Pradeep
