Under the Chhattisgarh government’s ‘River Bank Tree Plantation’ programme till Friday, 11 lakh saplings have been planted on the banks of 28 rivers in the state. The plantation was carried out during the monsoon.
The fruit bearing and flowering tree species have been planted in an area of 978.785 hectares of land, an official statement said.
The plantation was done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Scheme (MNREGA), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and. Planning Authority (CAMPA) and District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMF) Funds.
The saplings came up on the banks of rivers Indravati, Shabari, Chakka Bukka, Mahanadi, Pairi, Kelo, Ib, Jonk, Hasdeo, Tandula, Narangi, Bhanwardih, Atem, Rihand, Semarkhad, and Bhupka.
Apart from these, plantation work has also been done on the river banks of Sendur, Baran, Moran, Surya, Kanhar, Bhaisun, Pathel, Ubhay, Banas, Odari and Doodh.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force, Rakesh Chaturvedi, said the main purpose of the plantation was to stop soil erosion from the river banks and for water retention in the soil.
