To increase its forest cover Haryana has made arrangements to raise about 4.5 crore plants in the state of which over 2.80 crore plants will be distributed free of cost and rest will be planted by the Haryana Forests Department.
While stating this on Wednesday, the Haryana minister of state for forests and tourism, Kiran Choudhry informed that the survival rate of seedlings during the year 2006-07 was varying from 68% to 91% and efforts will be made to increase this by adopting modern techniques and methods of tree plantation in different parts of the state.
The minister informed that as many as 20 herbal parks had already been set up in the state which were in good shape and will be promoted for herbal and medicinal plants in these parks. She informed that 8 more herbal parks would be set up in the during the current financial year.
She said that preference will be given to raise plants like like Teak, Sisham, Jamun, Arjun, Bakain, Bahera, Neem, Papri, Siris and Ficus in different nurseries of the state. As it is observed that the tall plants have the potential to face mortality even in extreme weather conditions and going down of water table, she added.
She said that rapid strides will be taken to increase forest cover in the state upto 8% during 2007-08 to make Haryana green and healthy.
She further said that impetus will be given to tree plantation in the state. And an amount of Rs 100.58 crore had been earmarked for the Action Plan of year 2007-08 as against Rs 97.35 crore prepared for the previous year 2006-07.