In a significant decision, the Education Department has decided to setup herbal gardens in the government schools where there is extra land available for such activities.This was announced by the Minister for Education, Mr Naeem Akhtar during his visit to the Forest Department nursery at Kralsangri, Srinagar.The Minister sought the expertise and help of the Forest Department in setting up herbal gardens in schools as a commercial activity. He said mostly the medicinal and aromatic plants would be grown in these herbal gardens so that the land lying under-utilised in educational institutions is put to proper use.The Minister announced that to begin with herbal gardens would be established in government schools at Kothibagh, Bijbehara, Pahalgam, Brakpora, Hajin, Pattan and Tangmarg, where enough land is available for such activities. He said the activity would be extended to the schools in Jammu division as well.Director Education Kashmir, Shah Faesal, Conservator Forests, Farooq Ahmad Geelani and other officers of the Education and Forest Department accompanied the Minister.