Mizoram govt sponsors tree planting

Aizawl, Nov 1 (UNI) To increase bio-diversity, the state government has initiated a unique programme called 'sponsored tree planting' across the state.

The pilot project, under the supervision of the state-level committee on 'Green Mizoram', in which any person could plant a tree in memory of his or her departed ones, rememberance of an event, advertisements and others.

The committee has identified about 20 tree plantation areas across the region.

The sponsorship could be with a minimum payment of about Rs 1000 for each tree from the state Environment and Forest(E&F) department.

Apart from this, the committee, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Zoramthanga, also initiated a massive plantation drive all over the state every year before monsoon.

The committee, said low lying areas and valleys should be set aside for farming and horticulture purposes while lands in the higher altitudes should be reserved for afforestation.

The E&F department officials said at present they have about 5,00,000 saplings that could be planted for these programmes.

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