In order to improve the green cover and prevent soil erosion the government has launched massive plantation drive and over 33 lakh saplings of different varieties of trees have been planted across the Valley so far.This was stated by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon on Saturday. He said various departments were involved in the plantation drive including Social Forestry, Sericulture, Soil Conservation, Horticulture, Rural Development, Forests and Floriculture.He said this year different varieties of saplings including Chinar, Broad Leaved, Conifer, Medicinal, Mulberry, Rubeena, Traditional and High Density Apple, Walnut and Poplar (Male) were planted to improve the green cover in Kashmir Valley.Giving out details, Dr Samoon said 1474 Chinar saplings were planted in Srinagar district, 503 in Budgam, 1100 in Anantnag, 20 in Kupwara, 118 in Bandipora, 1000 in Pulwama, 420 in Shopian, 535 in Ganderbal, 326 in Baramulla and 500 in Kulgam.
In Kupwara district, the administration has set a target of planting 683338 saplings of different varieties of trees this year out of which 596980 have already been planted while the rest will be covered in coming days.In Budgam the district administration has planted 426816 saplings against the set target of 458950 saplings.In Ganderbal district administration has planted 417850 saplings of different varieties of trees while in Pulwama district, 249373 saplings including Conifer, Walnut and Apple are targeted to be planted this year of which 185373 have already been planted.Kulgam district has set a target of 236650 saplings during this year's plantation drive while 332810 saplings are scheduled to be planted in the summer capital Srinagar of which 331336 have been planted.In Anantnag district, administration has set a target of planting 751600 Conifers, Broad Leaved, Medicinal and other saplings by different departments during this year of which around 4.6 lakh have already been planted.Dr Samoon said Forest, IWMP, Horticulture, Floriculture and other departments in Baramulla have a target of planting 305720 saplings of different varieties this year out of which 111670 have already been planted.