Tamil Nadu - Erode   

‘Efforts to increase forest cover have progressed well’

ERODE: Forest Department’s efforts to increase forest cover by growing trees on private lands have progressed well so far, Conservator of Forests, Erode, P. Durairasu said.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said under the ‘Tree Cultivation on Private Lands in Tamil Nadu’ programme, in Erode district 924 acres would be covered in the current financial year.

The 924 acres belonged to small and marginal farmers, with whose consent the Department had planted and was planting saplings.

The saplings were planted either on the entire field, as inter-crop or on the bunds, which depended on the farmers.

The department provided the saplings, bore the cost of planting and other expenses, Mr. Durairasu said and added that the farmer had to only take care of the plants.

On the 924 acres, the department would plant two lakh saplings by spending Rs. 19.97 lakh, he said.

Nearly 500 beneficiaries would be benefited. Similarly in Namakkal district, four lakh saplings would be planted on 2,120 acres, which would benefit 1,069 farmers, he said.

The department would spend Rs. 42.87 lakh for the purpose.

The move would help increase the forest cover in Erode and Namakkal districts, which stood at 28 and 16 per cent respectively.

The planting would be completed in 10 days, Mr. Durairasu said.

The saplings to be planted include tamarind, casurina, eucalyptus, teak and silver oak.

The type of sapling depends on the nature of the terrain. District Forest Officer, Erode, V. S. Malik, was also present.

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