50 crore saplings to be planted in Maharashtra in 3 years

The Maharashtra government is embarking on a massive tree plantation drive from this year, a top official said today.
Under the drive, 50 crore saplings will be planted in the next three years across Maharashtra, said secretary of forest department Vikas Kharge.
Kharge was addressing a press conference here after a review meeting that took stock of the preparations for the drive to be undertaken by the forest department. The meeting was chaired by forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Kharge said the government is pursuing an ambitious plan to increase the green cover in the state.
Around 4 crore saplings will planted from June 14 to July 7 jointly by the forest department (2.25 crore), Gram Panchayats (1 crore) and 75,000 by other departments, he said.

Similarly, 13 crore saplings will be sowed in 2018 and 33 crores in 2019, taking the total to 50 crores over three years, the official said.

He said district-level committees have been formed under thechairmanship of the collector to supervise and implement the tree plantation drive.
Representatives from government departments, NGOs and environment institutes have been appointed members of these panels, Kharge said.
"Most of the tree plantation will on non-forest areas and the forest department has identified the land banks for the same. These inlcude government offices, irrigation sites, land near canals, farms."
The government has signed MoUs with NHAI and Railways for tree plantation near highways and railway tracks, he said, adding people will be mobilised for successful implementation of the project.