Govt to plant 1 cr saplings across State

 The programme will be implemented by the State department of Forest and Environment with the assistance of educational and religious institutions, NGOs and NSS. A committee will be set up at all districts and taluks to oversee its implementation, he said.

The CM said, according to environmentalist the country’s total forest area should be at least 30 per cent for maintaining ecological balance, but it is less than 10 pc now. Therefore afforestation is being taken up in a big way, he said.

The State Forest department had developed 70,000 hectares of forest the last year. This year it has set the target of 80,000 hectares. In Bangalore the department has been directed to plant two lakh saplings to compensate the felling of trees for road widening projects, besides steps are being taken to develop 512 parks in Bangalore,  he said.

Western Ghats Task Force Chairman Ananth Hegde Ashisara said Hasiru Habba, Vruksha Pooje and Aranya Utsavas will be held at all taluks. Vruksha Mitra award were conferred on 19 persons for their efforts in forest conservation.