Statewide Large-scale Tree Plantation Planned Ahead of Monsoon Season

Udaipur.In accordance with geographical conditions, selection of plantation sites and tree species to be planted will be carried out.

A statewide large-scale tree plantation program will be undertaken this year ahead of the monsoon season. In preparation for this initiative, on Saturday, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department, Abhay Kumar, chaired a video conference with all the Chief Executive Officers of the District Councils, officials from the Forest Department, Water Resources Department, and Education Department, directing them to study the geographical conditions of their respective districts thoroughly and accordingly select plantation sites and tree species.

Additionally, it was mentioned that with the cooperation of schemes such as MGNREGA, Water Resources, Forest Department, and Education Department, extensive tree plantation will be carried out in urban and rural areas. Each student in government schools will be involved in planting a minimum of one tree, which will also be taken care of by the students themselves. Suitable locations such as school playgrounds, vacant lands, both sides of roads, forest areas, anganwadi centers, public parks, etc., will be chosen for planting in designated areas this month, and all preparations for digging pits will be completed by June, with tree planting activities commencing from July.

It was emphasized that the program's success would rely on the appropriate cooperation of all departmental officials, voluntary organizations, various self-help groups operated by Rajivika, among others. A review of the status of planted saplings will be conducted in September. District officials were directed to plant grass on hilly and plain areas as per the geographical conditions and conserve their seeds to prepare saplings for the next year.

Nodal officers will be appointed for each region to ensure proper management of the trees, including regular watering and protection from stray animals. Vegetable and fruit-bearing plants will also be planted in government schools and anganwadi centers to benefit local students.

Extensive tree plantation will be undertaken statewide as a public campaign on World Nature Conservation Day on July 28. For this purpose, targets will be allocated to each panchayat and school.

In the video conference, the Additional Chief Secretary directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Udaipur District Council, Kirti Rathore, to undertake extensive grass planting on both sides of the Udaipur-Jhadol road, prepare a detailed action plan for planting other trees, and make efforts to keep the hills green throughout the year. A detailed review of the work plan was conducted in the video conference, and a comprehensive report is to be submitted by May 26. Officials from various departments, including Forest, Education, Panchayati Raj, and Water Resources, attended the meeting.