Maharashtra sets itself an ambitious target: 50 crore more trees in three years

Encouraged by the its success with meeting the target of two crore tree plantations last year, the Maharashtra government has now set a more ambitious target for itself. In the next three years, it has planned to plant 50 crore trees across the state.

According to the government circular, the government has decided to undertake a massive tree plantation programme this year. "Of 50 crore proposed tree plantations, state forest department will plant 40 crore saplings, local bodies like gram panchayats will plant 9.50 crore trees, and the remaining by various participating NGOs. The trees will be planted at the government premises, court premises, charitable commissioner offices at the district and state level, and temple areas like Shirdi, Pandharpur, Shegaon," it states geo-tapping method will be used to plant the saplings, as per the circular. "We want to plant the trees in a scientific way. Soil testing of the areas where trees are to be planted will also be done. The proposed planting places will be demarcated by March 31, 2017. Besides, the fertiliser, chemical will be also used so that the tree can survive. The success ration of plantation will be 70 to 80 per cent. The respective government offices and their officers will be held responsible for to maintain this surviving ratio," reads the circular.

Government officials said that they will also be involving NGOs, corporate firms and other private companies to plant these trees.

Currently, Maharashtra has about 20 per cent green cover against the required 33.5 per cent. Of the 307 lakh hectares, only 61.35 lakh ha are under green cover. "Depleting green cover is one of the major causes of climate change and it is affecting the monsoon. We have already planted two crore samplings last year. This move will help increase the green cover, maintain ecological and environmental balance and conserve forest. The identified locations for plantations will be monitored through GPS and other online facilities. Person concerned has to upload the progress of the programme. What kind of sampling has been planted, number of saplings and information of locations will be uploaded on a website so that the progress can be minutely monitored by the government," said an official.