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A unique plantation drive

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, AUG. 17. A unique plantation drive, ensuring the continuous care of trees for five years till they attain maturity, has been started in Udaipur, opening a new chapter of environment protection in the history of the erstwhile capital of the Mewar princely State. Institutional backing has also added a new aspect to the campaign.

The Rajasthan Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, launched the drive on the Independence Day by planting `neem' trees at the popular tourist destination of Rani Road in Udaipur. He said the campaign was the first of its kind in which the institutions would bear responsibility to nurture and raise the plants till they grew fully.

The Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) and Rotary Club in the town have jointly started plantation on the road adjacent to Fateh Sagar lake and made arrangements for installing tree guards, regular watering and proper maintenance by the individuals engaged for the purpose. Official sources said any person could participate in the drive by paying Rs. 750 for each plant and would get his name permanently inscribed near the tree, making him emotionally attached to the plant's growth. The UIT will monitor development of plants by registering their growth rate every year and replace them with new plants, if needed.

In the initial phase, the plantation of neem, gulmohar and amaltaas has been taken up in the City of Lakes. According to official sources, the trees producing flowers and providing shade to pedestrians would be planted at a distance of 45 to 50 feet all over the city in the coming months. The Rotary Club will deposit Rs. 75,000 with the UIT for the drive. It will be the responsibility of the persons engaged by UIT to ensure that the plants remain safe and grow naturally to take the shape of trees with strong trunk and firm roots. Mr. Kataria said the drive -- besides checking environmental degradation -- would also have a positive impact on tourism in the historic city and benefit the local populace.

While the UIT has already identified several locations in the town for undertaking plantation, the Udaipur Municipal Council has announced that it would plant 4,000 trees at various places this year. The Municipal Council's Chairman, Yudhishthir Kumawat, and Divisional Commissioner, Sudarshan Sethi, planted trees along with Mr. Kataria on the occasion.

Mr. Kataria announced that Rs. 1-lakh would be sanctioned every year from the MLAs' local area development fund for implementation of various plantation schemes in Udaipur district.

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