Chhattisgarh to launch plantation drive

Corporate houses in Chhattisgarh would join hands with the state government to launch a major plantation drive this year.

According to officials in the department of forests, the state government had decided to launch “Harihar (green) Chhattisgarh 2010 campaign” during the monsoon season. The state-run forest development corporation would be the agency to execute and supervise the massive plantation drive. Under the programme, the state government plans to plant 70 million saplings by the sides of roads that connect Chhattisgarh with neighbouring states. In all, 2000 km roads would be covered in the campaign.

To complete the task, Chhattisgarh government has decided to take up the project under Public Private Partnership model. “The Chief Minister, Raman Singh called upon the corporate houses to assist the state government in making green state,” the officials added.

The forest department had given the target to major industrial houses in the state to plant saplings. While the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) the entity of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)-had been asked to plant saplings in 50 km stretch, the Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) had been given a target of 100 km.