650 hectare to be brought under plantation in Himachal Pradesh

Hamirpur, July 19

As many as 650 hectare area will be brought under plantation by the Forest Department during the current monsoon season, said Pardeep Thakur, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), here yesterday. He said the department had raised a nursery of more than seven lakh saplings that would be planted during the season.

Apart from traditional trees like pine, sheesham and khair, the department had also decided to plant herbal trees like jamun, harar, behra and amla. He said growing fruit trees would help in restricting monkeys to forests and saving crops. He said that monkey menace was a serious problem for farmers and the department was trying to control population of monkeys through artificial sterilisation.

The CCF said that the department would ensure upkeep of 1.5 lakh plants planted last year. Efforts would be made to ensure 100% survival of new plants.