(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
In an effort to transform 100 hectares of dry hilly area in
Rajasthan's Banswara district, tribal people of the region are
carrying out a massive drive of planting around 50,000 saplings,
Trend reports citing
The
Tribune .
With the help of the forest department, over 700 residents of
three villages are carrying out the drive in the Babadev Khajuri
Dungra forest, around 40 km from Banswara city, which is likely to
bring a significant change in the region.
Fifteen different species of saplings, including Sagwan, Khair,
Bamboo, Babool, Kachnar, Amla, Arjuna, Jamun, Kali Karanj, Kadaya,
Gada Palash, Banyan and Peepal, are being planted.
'The work has been almost completed. It will not only increase
the forest cover but also provide fruits and fulfill firewood and
fodder demands of the locals and their livestock,' said Dalji,
president of the Dungra Forest Management Protection Committee.
Trenches have been dug while check dams and earthen dams have
been built to conserve water and irrigate the saplings, he said.
The forest department deployed excavation machines to build the
earthen dams and trenches that would conserve rainwater.
Dalji said the committee will look after the saplings for the
next five years and will also plant new ones if some of them don't
survive.
In January this year, the forest department sensitised the
tribal people about the need for making a collective effort to
increase the forest cover in the region. It took more than four
months to dig pits and the plantation drive will be completed by
July end.
'It was difficult for villagers and the forest team to get the
work done on the dry hills during summer. But, the villagers have
worked hard to bring a change in the area. As many as 50,000
saplings are being planted on 100 hectares of land,' forester
Ramesh Mayda said.
Tents were set up to provide shade to the workers. The bigger
challenge was to carry drinking water to the hills for the workers,
but the villagers accomplished the task.
Banswara Divisional Conservator of Forest Jignesh Sharma said
the effort will not only lead to an increase in the forest cover in
the region but will also provide the locals with firewood and
fruits.
'The steps taken to increase the forest cover will have a
far-reaching impact. It provides work to the villagers apart from a
better environment and sources of livelihood,' Sharma said.
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