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Desert blooms in Lahual

SHIMLA: Tribal Lahaul valley in Himachal, which remains cut-off from the rest from the rest of the state for nearly six months due to heavy snowfall in winters, now has a surprise to offer to visitors.

The valley surrounded by high mountains was devoid of vegetation till few years ago but today all the major highways in the valley are blooming green with roadside plantations.

An eco-development project - Blooming highways - currently under implementation in the twin high valleys of Lahaul and Spiti has added colour to the snow desert with tall green trees dotting the roadside, an official spokesman said here on Sunday.

The plantations exist on the three major highways running through the area, Koksar-Keylong, Keylong-Darcha and Tandi to mini Manali near Udaipur, he said.

The spokesman said the project involved the district administration and non-government organisations.

He said it envisaged plantations of indigenous plants like Poplar, Willow and Deodar and 11,500 saplings of these species had been planted so far.

``The encouraging aspect of the project is the survival of plants at about 70 per cent, better than any other area in the temperate region,'' he said.

The saplings were wrapped with gunny bags, he said, adding watershed committees in the area were asked to water the plants at least once a week and protect them from cattle.

An expenditure of Rs 1.50 lakh had so far been incurred on plantations and each branch of a tree used in plantation was purchased at the rate of Rs 12 from the farmers, he said. PTI

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