Forest dept plans to plant 34,000 saplings in Mysuru city

Mysuru: With the monsoon approaching, the social forestry wing of the forest fepartment has planned to plant 34,000 saplings across Mysuru city to improve green cover.

Officials said the saplings will be planted along roadsides, in parks and major streets, on school campuses, and within govt office premises, as well as on any available land, as part of the afforestation initiative.

Last year, the department distributed 2.7 lakh saplings of different varieties, including 1.1 lakh within city limits. Authorities said the plantation drive aims to enhance urban greenery and improve the city’s salubrious environment. The department is also preparing locations and maintenance plans to ensure better survival of the saplings after planting.

The saplings raised by the department include fruit-bearing and flowering varieties that attract birds, apart from species such as teak, mahagony, silver oak, hebbavu, sandalwood, tamarind, honge, jamun, neem, jackfruit and kadu badami.

These saplings were grown in nurseries across six ranges of Mysuru taluk and will be made available for distribution from June onwards, once the monsoon gains momentum in the district.

Of the 34,000 saplings prepared, residents and members of various organisations can purchase and plant them from forest department nurseries. The saplings are priced between Rs 3 and Rs 100, depending on the variety. The department has also planned to distribute saplings such as kaadu mallige, kaadu sampige and other ornamental varieties this year.

Measures have been initiated to maintain the saplings for three years, with forest watchers deployed to water and care for plants along roadsides, in parks and other areas within city limits. The department plants at least 300 saplings per kilometre, and one forest watcher is assigned to maintain a 3km stretch of roadside plantations.

Deputy conservator of forests, Mysuru, Paramesh said that this year, the department is prepared to distribute 34,000 saplings within city limits and 1.4 lakh saplings to farmers in rural areas to improve greenery across the district.

1.4 lakh saplings for farmers

The department has also decided to distribute 1.4 lakh saplings of various varieties to farmers under the Aranya Krishi Protsaha scheme for plantation in villages, burial grounds, roadsides, schools and community hall premises.

Under the scheme, farmers are provided incentives of Rs 100 for watering, fencing and maintenance. The department releases Rs 30 to Rs 35 in the first year after planting and extends financial assistance subsequently based on the condition of the saplings. The incentives are directly credited to the farmers’ bank accounts.