10 crore saplings to be planted this monsoon in the 'Hariyar Chattisgarh' drive

Raipur: Around 10 crore saplings would be planted in Chhattisgarh during the ongoing monsoon season as part of a special drive.

"While nearly eight crore saplings will be planted by various government departments, remaining two crore will be planted by industries and private organisations under Hariyar Chhattisgarh Campaign," an official said.

The target was finalized during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh. At the meeting, Singh deliberated upon preparations for conducting the campaign and decided to organize intensive plantation programmes in all districts of the state on July 31, the birth anniversary of eminent litterateur Munshi Premchand, the official said.

The CM has instructed officials to fulfill the target of planting 2-2.5 crore saplings in all villages and cities, including Naya Raipur, by July 31. He also asked to rope in maximum number of school and college students and also public representatives to make the drive a success.

Singh, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of work in tissue culture laboratories being operated under Forest Department, and instructed them to expedite the process.

"Outsourcing should be done to handle works in tissue culture labs, located in Raipur, Jagdalpur and Bilaspur," the official quoted CM as saying.

Singh also instructed the officials concerned to consider possibility of shifting trees instead of cutting them while undertaking road broadening works, he said.

Keeping in view the absence of representatives of various industries in the meeting, the CM said, "though the meeting of 'Hariyar Chhattisgarh Campaign' is organised only once every year, indifference of private companies is extremely unfortunate."

The CM also took a serious note of local officials of Indian Oil not attending the meeting and said the state government will send a letter to Petroleum Minister, demanding a strict action against the absentees.

Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, senior officials and representatives of several industries and PSUs attended the meeting.