Agartala, Jun 23 (UNI) Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and Forest Minister
Mevar Kumar Jamatia joined the run for green Agartala on the street this morning
along with hundreds of civil society members and paramilitary personnel.
Addressing the gathering Deb appealed the city dwellers to make plantation as
habitat for every house and said, “Urban areas have severe scarcity of land for
plantation but there is scope for raising plants in the top floor. The state government
has laid out a detailed plan to make Agartala a green city.”
Deb however, said that besides, planting trees in the city, the government has
planned to increase vegetation cover for maintaining balance between air moisture
and soil moisture whatever little scope Agartala has.
He urged the people to encourage children for plantation and teach them about
conservation of environment.
More than 1000 saplings of various fruits and state plants – Agar, Mahogany and
Nageshwar were distributed among the participants as part of the mission – “each
one plant one”.
The plantation program will continue till end of July and the forest department will
supply saplings free of cost to the people of Tripura, said forest minister Jamatia.
The chief minister on Saturday formally launched month long celebration of
Vanamahotsava at Bagma of Gomati district by planting 6500 saplings along NH-8 in
a minute under Green Tripura initiative of BJP-IPFT government in the state and
forest department has this time planted bit matured (4/5 feet long) saplings so that
they don't die.
During the current year (2018/19) till date plantation has taken place in 5500
hectares area and of which 71 per cent of saplings has survived, Deb claimed adding
that in 2014-15 plantation took place across 1500 hectares area but 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 because of carelessness.
Deb reiterated that in the last budget the state government has brought a special
scheme to preserve environment and in the scheme those who are living or having
land near main roads will be getting monthly Rs 200 for planting trees and
maintenance, which would provide benefit about two lakh families.
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