Early Times Report
Katra, Dec 13: Following the directions issued by Chairman, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, (SMVDSB) N N Vohra for conserving the environment and ecology and greening the Trikuta Hills along the Tracks leading to the Shrine, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Board Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, asserted that Board has planted over 5.50 lakh saplings, including forest, Horticulture, Floriculture, Medicinal and ornamental species of plants have been planted during the last 4 years.
"As many as 1.50 lakh plants are being planted during the present winter plantation season, which will raise the number of plants put in the ground to 7 lakh. The prominent species include Emblica Offcinalis, Bamboos, Syzygium Cumini, Terminalia Arjuna, Bougainvillea etc, he added.
Chief Executive Officer, disclosed today that, in order to generate in-house production of indigenous species of plants, which are compatible to the local climatic conditions in the Trikuta Hills area, a multi-purpose nursery with a capacity to produce more than 2 lakh seedlings per year is being set up at village Kunkuniyallan, near Panthal by the Board. "The development of this nursery is being supervised by B. Mohan Dass, head of the Forestry Wing of the Board, he said.
In addition to the afforestation efforts, several measures aimed at preventing forest fires have been undertaken by the Forestry Wing of the Shrine Board. These efforts, monitored by the Governor at regular intervals, has resulted in there being no forest fire incident during the summer of 2013 as against 6 fire incidents in 2012.
The Chairman has also approved an Eco-restoration Plan which has been formulated keeping in consideration important aspects such as site condition, water regime and need for protection of the plantation areas. This Plan, which is being executed in the current year, includes greening activities, watershed management and forest fire management.
The Shrine Board has taken up another major initiative to train Nallahs in the Trikuta Hills to check soil erosion and ensure stabilisation of the area. |
