Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Thursday announced that the state will launch a massive plantation drive under the Amrit Brikshya Andolan, with a target of planting one crore saplings across Assam between August 10 and 14.
The announcement was made during a plantation programme at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to mark the 77th Van Mahotsav, where the Minister, along with forest officials and local residents, planted 77 saplings.
Addressing the gathering, Mallabaruah said nearly 10 lakh students from Class IX onwards, including college, engineering and medical students, will participate in the campaign by planting 10 saplings each.
To ensure long-term survival of the plantations, job card holders will be entrusted with maintaining the saplings and will receive incentives based on their survival rate.
The Minister also unveiled the 'Phalbari' initiative, under which one crore indigenous fruit saplings will be distributed across the state from April next year. To support the programme, new nurseries will be developed from October this year with the objective of promoting biodiversity and strengthening food security.
As part of the government's green initiatives, every forest range in Assam will establish a 'Birthday Garden', encouraging people to celebrate birthdays by planting trees.
Another initiative will focus on restoring ecologically sensitive char and chapori areas using seed-ball technology to improve vegetation cover in erosion-prone regions.
