"Himachal government has a target to plant 2,00,00,000 plants in the monsoon under Vanamahotsava," he said at Jawalamukhi, 45 kms from here.
During the past 4 years, the state government has planted 6,40,00,000 plants of different varieties in 20,000 hectares of land in the state, he said.
The varieties include timber, fruit and medicinal plants, he said, adding that the state had succeeded in rearing sandalwood plants in the Dehra sub division of the Kangra district, which would benefit people monetarily too.
"Under Pipal-Bargad Yojna , 8,000 plants were planted in 4,446 villages of the state last year and the scheme shall continue," the minister said.
Forests cover about 21,325 sq kms of the total area of the state and the government is aiming to provide green cover to 50 per cent of the total area, he said.
An integrated watershed department project for the Shivaliks is under preparation, he said.
Another project for the afforestation of barren 'Kandi' areas has been undertaken with the help of the World Bank.
Earlier, forests were considered as the main source of income of the state. However, stress has now shifted from exploitation to conservation, he added.
