Hariyali Mahotsav has got underway in the state from today. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department has told its field officers to plant saplings of such trees in their respective areas, whose survival is sure, their products can be exploited and they help in generating rural livelihoods. The officer concerned will be held responsible if better quality saplings were not purchased for plantation drive.
The Panchayat and Rural Development Department is celebrating Hariyali Mahotsav throughout the state from July 1. During the campaign, maximum number of saplings will be plants during the rainy season in 52 thousand villages. The financial arrangements for this will be made from the funds of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Cachment Area Management Mission, Swarn Jayanti Rozgar Yojna and Rural Livelihoods Project.Detailed instructions have been given to the field officers about the species of saplings and the place where they will be planted. Besides, instructions have also been given to exercise utmost transparency in the purchase of saplings. Clear-cut instructions have been given to the field officer to purchase saplings only from the government nurseries. They have also been instructed to give special preference to better quality saplings. Instructions have been given to seek the help of botany experts to ascertain quality of saplings.