| Work could further speed up on the unique blooming highways project on the Bilaspur-Manali national highway (NH21) in Himachal Pradesh as the state government has received the first instalment of Rs 50,00,000 for the project from the Central Ministry of Tourism.
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| The aim of the project is to plant blooming trees on the highway, leading to the popular resort town of Manali, to make the journey memorable.
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| “Rs 75,00,000 has already been raised for the bloom highways project from other government and private agencies. This amount was utilised last year to plant blooming trees on a 16-km stretch from Bilaspur.
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| “We are encouraged by the high rate of survival of these trees,” said K Subramanyam, a top state government official who is heading the project.
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| “Pits are being dug up for plantation along the NH-21 to be carried out after July 15 when the monsoon arrives,” he said.
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| The bloom-highway project is being described as unique by many. The stakeholders of the project include state government agencies, non-government organisations, private bodies and panchayats and they will be offered financial benefits.
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| Voluntary help is being sought of some 300 panchayats along NH 21 for planting saplings on the 240-km long stretch between the Gara Morh Himachal-Punjab border post and the resort town of Manali.
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| Saplings will also be planted on the premises of the three stadiums in Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur districts under this project.
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| Blooming trees will also be planted along the 18-km Swarghat-Naina Devi road leading to the popular pilgrimage centres of Naina Devi and the Baba Balak Nath in Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts. |
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