On the occasion of Banmahotsava, an event was organized at Udaipur in Gomti district of Tripura where 6500 saplings has been planted in one minute around the NH-8 area.
State chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb who was invited as the chief guest on that event expressed his gratitude for organizing such event and thanked the South district administration, forest department, participating school and college students and the people of Udaipur for taking part in this great initiative.
Deb also said that this step under ‘Green Tripura’ initiative will not only preserve environment but shall also add to the beauty of the State.
On that occasion, he appealed to everyone to work for ‘clean and green’ Tripura.
Chief minister Deb said that to conserve environment and nature the state Forest department is taking all necessary steps and this time the department has planted a bit matured (4/5 feet long) saplings so that the survival rate is better.
He informed that during the current year (2018/19) till date, plantation has taken place across 5500 hectares area and of which 71 per cent of saplings has survived.
In the meantime, during the year 2014-15 planting of saplings took place across only 1500 hectares area and out of which on 50 per cent of the saplings survived.
While during 2015-16, the plantation area was 5000 hectares, again in 2016-17 the area covered was 2500 hectares and in 2017-18 the area covered under new plantation has been 1000 hectares.
The chief minister viewed that though since 2016 there was a decreasing trend of new plantation but since the new BJP-IPFT governmant came to power in March 2018, the number of saplings planted has not only increased but also the survival rate improved because the present government is committed towards conservation of the environment.
He said that as a result of the new government’s special attention towards conserving of environment it has taken few initiatives for increasing the area covered under new plantation and in 2018-19 the government covered 5500 hectares of land.
Deb added that one of the biggest hurdles in this process is maintanence of saplings across large area and which is not only costly but also need a trained large manpower, however, on the contrary it’s easy to nurture 2000-2500 saplings in a single nursery, which is cost effective and requires less manpower.
Deb mentioned that the new record set today by the Tripura government by planting 6500 sapling along the highway in a minute time is really appreciable.
He added that in Indian culture trees are worshiped inorder to save and preserve the environment for the future generations.
Deb appealed to youths and students to play a vital role in conserving the environment and spreading awareness about it.
Deb announced that the State Government is going to bring a special scheme to preserve environment and under which those living or having land near main roads will be getting monthly Rs 200 for planting trees and for their maintenance.
According to the chief minister, nearly two lakh families will be benefited from this scheme.