Rourkela, Bonai and Sundergarh divisions of the forest department would plant trees on maximum of 5323 hectares and also maintain the planted saplings under the venture being financed under the MGNREGA.
For this, the department would receive an additional amount of Rs 6.24 crores, official sources said today.
In addition, the soil conservation and sericulture departments would also receive adequate funds to plant saplings and maintain them on 454 hectares and 235 hectares of land respectively, they said.
It will be the responsibility of the forest department to ensure the success of this massive plantation and maintenance as well. Saplings would be planted along roads stretching over 100 kilometres in the whole district.
Under the direct supervision of Bhagawan Pati, DFO Rourkela division the first part of the work has begun at Kuanrmunda, Rajgangpur and Biramitrapur, over 25 kilometres of road. Last year this division had planted over a strech of seven kilometres between Cahndiposh and Jagdishpur.
This year it has plans to plant over 3500 saplings in the three mentioned areas. Besides, 5000 saplings would be planted under the road side plantation drive.
To ensure safety of planted saplings the department is planning to put the time tested bamboo fencing. Labourers would be engaged under the MNREGA scheme for post monsoon watering of the plants, sources said.