Govt to promote plantation on sides of rural roads

New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) The Ministry of Rural Development proposes to promote avenue plantation on both sides of rural roads.

The Ministry has advised all state Governments to impress upon Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to prepare an action plan for taking avenue plantation particularly on those new roadsbuilt under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Under this initiative, the rural poor would be able to take part in raising nurseries and plant saplings.

It is proposed to plant at least 100 trees, preferably fruit bearing, on every km. of road on each side. Details of trees planted, expenditure incurred, employment generation, and wages paid should be subject to local monitoring and social audit prescribed under the scheme.

Under PMGSY of the Ministry of Rural Development, around 9,000 kms. of roads have been built during 2000-2006. This huge network of rural roads which constitute 84 per cent of the total road network in the country offers an excellent opportunity for avenue plantation under the two wage employment programmes of the Ministry, namely, Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

Under these programmes, plantation of trees is an admissible act.

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