The Forest Department has raised and planted more than six lakh saplings and seedlings under various programmes in Chamarajanagar district to enhance the green cover.
This was stated by the authorities during the launch of the Koti Vriskha Andolana project organised at the Morarji Desai Residential School, Thimmarajapura, Kollegal taluk, on Sunday.
To mark the occasion, 100 seedlings were simultaneously planted on the school campus by the students in the presence of Jayanna, MLA, Narendra, MLA and other elected representatives.
The programme was organised jointly by Cauvery wildlife division and Male Mahadeshwara wildlife division, Chamarajanagar circle and more than 2,000 students from different schools of the taluk participated in it.
B.P. Ravi, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chamarajanagar circle, said around 54 per cent of the geographical area of the district is already under reserve forest and protected area category.
There are two tiger reserves and two wildlife sanctuaries in this district which also has the highest tiger population and highest number of elephants in the country.
Hence, there was a provision to plant seedlings and saplings on the remaining 46 per cent of the geographical area under the programme, he added.
The district has been given the target of planting two lakh seedlings under the current campaign but the authorities have raised and taken up the plantation of six lakhs seedlings along the roads, agricultural fields, schools etc. In M.M. Hills wildlife division alone 1.8 lakh seedlings were raised and distributed to farmers and school students.
The plantation campaign was followed by the inauguration of a yoga platform, kalyani and a play area for children at Maradigudda Tree Park in the heart of Kollegal town.
Malathi Priya , DCF, M.M.Hills wildlife division, Kollegal, Ramesh Kumar, DCF, Cauvery wildlife division, Kollegal and others were present on the occasion.
