Special drive for afforestation in HP

The minister said that the state government was committed to expand the green cover and a special plantation drive would be launched for it.

Bharmauri was interacting with senior officers of the 133 Infantry Battalion (TA) Ecological Dogra here.

"The drive will be started from Rampur and Chamba forest circles and later extended to other parts of the state," he said.

Forest department would also work on war-footing to remove Lantana grass and bushes and species would be planted to provide green fodder to sheep breeders and farming community, he said.

He said that 133, Infantry Battalion (TA) Ecological Dogra had been doing a laudable work in afforestation, soil conservation and construction of check dams.

The minister said that the government had already sanctioned Rs 25 lakh to the department to remove Lantana grass from the fields in Nurpur Division initially and later extended the campaign to other affected areas of the state.