Mysuru: Forest Minister Ramanath Rai kick started the State government program ‘Koti Vruksha Andolana’ to increase green cover in Mysuru by planting a neem sapling on Outer Ring Road here on Saturday. As many as 8 crores saplings will be planted across the state as a part of the program.
State government’s new program ‘‘Koti Vruksha Andolana’ launched
“There should be a minimum of 33 percent forest cover on earth, but in Karnataka the forest cover is just 21 to 22 percent while in Mysuru district it is just 16 percent due to which there is ecological imbalance and drought not only across the State but also across the country. Hence keeping this in mind we have decided to come out with the program “Koti Vruksha Andolana” under which we will be planting 8 crore different saplings across the State. Once these saplings are grown we can definitely expect increase in the green cover across the state. It is not only the responsibility of the government but also the people to see that more saplings are planted and maintained as well,” said Rai.
He also mentioned that farmers who grow these plants in their land will be given incentives. For each plant they grow during first year, Rs 10 will be given as maintenance charge or incentives while for second and third year, they will be paid Rs 15 and Rs 20 for each plant respectively. At an outset they will be paid Rs 45 per plant for three years.
The initiative is a part of the State forest department’s target of planting 8 crore saplings across the state. The state wide program will be kick started on July 2 at Bengaluru. During one week that is from July 2 to 10, the forest department along with various other departments in association with different organizations will be planting 8 crore plants, including 28 lakh saplings in Mysuru district alone. The forest department will be planting nearly 5000 saplings in outer ring road. They have planned to plant 30,000 saplings across the city.
MLA GT Devegowda who spoke on the occasion said, “When Sanjay Gandhi was the minister he was very much concerned about green cover. He came out with various initiatives to increase the forests. If he was alive today, the forest cover across the country would have not come down. Not only the forest cover would have been grown, but also human population would have been under control as he was mulling out to introduce 2 children in a family which was common for all including the minorities”.
He also called upon the forest department officials that just planting the saplings will not serve the purpose but more priority and importance should be given to grow and look after it.
Regarding the ongoing developmental work at Chamundi Hill, Rai said, “The forest area is not being touched in the developmental works undertaken at Chamundi Hill. Even then I will speak to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and try doing my best.
