Forest dept. inks pact with railways to increase green cover

DFO says project will be completed in three annual phases

Divisional Forest Officer G. Srinivasulu with a railway official taking part in the survey for avenue plantation project along the Chittoor-Katpadi railway track in Chittoor district.

The Forest Department in Chittoor district has entered into a pact with the Guntakal division of the South Central Railway to raise block and avenue plantations along the railway tracks to the tune of 541 kilometres. The range will cover the division up to Mulakalacheruvu, Akkurthi, Chittoor-T.N. border towards Katpadi and Mamandur towards Kadapa district.

Divisional Forest Officer (Social Forestry) G. Srinivasulu told The Hindu that senior officials of the SCR took part in a series of meetings with the forest officials and inspected some of the congenial stretches along the railway tracks in the district.

Block plantations

The plantation activity in association with the railways had already commenced in some of the stations and the avenue and block plantations would start soon.

The mega project covers the target of 50% green cover in the district by 2029. The current tie-up will be launched at the rate of 1,111 plants per hectare in block plantations, and 400 trees per each kilometre along the track.

Visual splendour

The official said that the railway authorities had preferred the varieties of neem, gulmohar, and flowering plants as this would not only enhance the visual splendour, but also serve the purpose of giving shade. “The project will be completed in three annual phases, and maintenance will be there for a total of six years. All the particulars pertaining to the project is submitted to the railways,” the DFO said.

The official said that survey of the Tirupati-Katpadi and Tirupati-Darmavaram sections for launching the plantations is under brisk progress.