By IANS
Lucknow : With a view to increasing the forest cover in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Mayawati proposes to launch a major tree plantation drive in the state.
Titled 'operation green', the programme was included in the state's annual budget that was presented by the chief minister in the state assembly here Friday.
A budgetary provision of Rs.4.19 billion was made for the purpose.
Special focus was given to the rocky Vindhyachal and Bundelkhand areas where a new scheme to promote bamboo plantation would be undertaken.
Simultaneously, a campaign would be launched to protect forest areas from encroachments. The budget calls for a detailed survey and demarcation of forestland that has not been done for decades.
"Once that (survey) is done, the government would set up its check-posts to demarcate the forest areas," a top forest department official told IANS.