Bhandara plants its drive four days ahead of schedule

Nagpur: Fearing action against them for failure in achieving the tall plantation target set by the state government for July 1, Bhandara forest division under Nagpur Circle has already launched its plantation drive.
Though it may be of convenience for Bhandara forest officials, it is against the GR issued on March 31, which clearly mentions that 2 crore plantations have to be achieved on July 1 (Van Mahotsav) only.Of these, 50 lakh saplings are to be planted by other state departments.
As per the official figures, Bhandara division has to plant 6,39,365 saplings. However, plantation of saplings on 571 hectares has already begun on June 27. According to the sources, 75% work on planting saplings has been completed in forest patches of Sakoli, Lakhandur, Tumsar, Paoni, and Mohadi.
Bhandara deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) NR Praveen confirmed that plantation work has started in the division.
“We actually have a target to plant 7.27 lakh saplings. So we have taken up work on excess saplings that have to be planted apart from the set target of 6.39 lakh for July 1,” said Praveen.
The official added that 6.39 lakh saplings will be planted on July 1. But a source said that maximum saplings have been planted and these will be recorded as new ones on D-Day. As per the official figures made available to TOI a few days ago, Bhandara division has to plant 6.77 lakh saplings. A question remains, when there is no target to plant excess saplings, why they are being planted?
There seems to be tremendous pressure on forest officials to achieve the target, prompting Praveen to start the work even before likely inauguration of the drive by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The drive was to be started by respective guardian ministers, MPs, MLAs or ZP chiefs of the district and other public representatives at grass roots. However, there is distortion in plantation targets also, and presently it, cannot be ascertained how many saplings will actually be planted.
Praveen says work on plantation was started owing to good rains. TOI found hectic activity in the 45 hectare forest of compartment number 261 in Kaneri area of Adyal forest range.