Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday directed the Forest Department to identity 50 to 100 acres of land in the low- lying areas adjoining the Yamuna and Delhi to construct reservoirs.
“This would not only help in conservation of water, but would also increase the land under forest. The State Government is committed to increase the area under forest,” Mr. Khattar said.
Mr. Khattar, who was presiding over a meeting to review the functioning of the Forest Department here, also asked the Department to find ways and means to transfer such land to the Department which is lying unused in different parts of the State so as to develop forestry.
“The Department can identify land in the areas of Faridabad, Rohtak and Jhajjar and adjoining the Yamuna for setting up reservoirs. The land could later be transferred to the Forest Department,” Mr. Khattar added.
He also stressed the need to encourage farmers to plant saplings of commercial value so as to increase their income and added that special emphasis should be given on their survival.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to prepare a mechanism to provide online information about the number of saplings planted in an area and number of plant survived so as to ensure transparency.
