By Imran Khan, IANS,
Patna : After politicians, Bihar’s 400,000 officials have been asked to plant one sapling each to increase the state’s green cover to 15 percent in the next five years.
“It is a big move to involve officials for a green Bihar,” an official in the chief minister’s office said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself has asked government officials to plant a sapling on their land or house premises each to help the state government’s drive for a green Bihar.
“Participation of government officials will boost the green Bihar campaign and send a positive message and motivate people to plant saplings,” B.A. Khan, principal chief conservator of forest, told IANS.
According to officials of the environment and forest department, the top brass of the state administration and district and block-level officials would soon start planting saplings.
“They would be encouraged to plant fruit-bearing trees. In the coming years, they and their families would taste the fruit,” a forest official said.
Speaking to IANS, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer said the move will set a new and positive trend in society. “It will be an opportunity to give something back to society,” he said.
The move has come nearly a month after Nitish Kumar urged members of the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) to plant trees.
Nitish Kumar also donated a month’s salary for the same cause. He recently flagged off the Harit Bihar Abhiyan Rath Yatra and urged ministers and legislators to donate a month’s salary for it. The campaign seeks to involve members of the JD-U in planting trees and creating awareness among the people.
The party has decided to plant five million saplings over the next two-three years.
State JD-U president Vasishth Narain Singh said the party is the first in India to include plantation in its agenda.
“We have decided to involve all leaders and workers in the drive by tagging it with the party’s membership drive,” he said.
Last month, the chief minister kick-started the green drive from his native village, Kalyanbigha, in Nalanda district. He made planting of a sapling mandatory for JD-U members for their membership to be renewed.
According to Vasishth Narain Singh, Nitish Kumar has been very impressed by Dharhara village.
The village, 230 km from here in Bhagalpur, hit the headlines two years ago when the villagers resolved to plant fruit trees like mango and litchi to celebrate the birth of every girl child. Their pledge to nature has made the place a green haven.
According to official data, only 6.87 percent of Bihar is under forest cover. Forest officials say that Bihar lost most of its green cover when Jharkhand was carved out of it in 2000.
Undivided Bihar had a forest cover of 17 percent. At present, Bihar stands sixth from the bottom in terms of forest cover in the country.
(Imran Khan can be contacted at [email protected])