Uttar Pradesh Government to Plant 22 Crore Saplings

22 crore saplings

Guwahati, July 18, 2019:

The Uttar Pradesh government has set an ambitious goal to plant 22 crore saplings in August this rainy season.

Work on-site identification, arranging free distribution of saplings, and interaction with stakeholders, has already begun. Schools and colleges have also been given assignments to look for sites where planting of 22 crore saplings can be done.

A large number of voluntary organizations have been involved in efforts in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone.

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As a result of urbanization, Agra's green cover has fallen sharply to around six percent.

The state government has also sought the active involvement of all the village panchayats, and the forest and the horticulture departments, to provide land for sapling plantation next month.

As per the Forest Survey report, Uttar Pradesh's green cover is only 9.18 per cent while 33 per cent land has to be under green cover as per rules.

As per reports, the Forest department official said seven crore saplings would be planted this year on its land. The state government has appealed to two crore farmers to plant 10 saplings each, who are beneficiaries under one scheme or the other.

Independent agencies will monitor the progress of the green campaign in the state, said reports. While geotagging will help identify plantation work that is undertaken.

In Agra, the target has been fixed at 28.57 lakh saplings. 8.6 lakh saplings will be planted by the Forest department while the remaining 25 state government departments will plant 19.97 lakh.

Distribution of saplings will start next week and the whole process has to be completed by August 15.