A week-long Van Mahotsav (Festival of Forest) was inaugurated today with the plantation of saplings at Tata Steel Zoological Society (TSZS) premises here.
The saplings were planted by Satyajit Singh, Conservator of Forests (Territorial Circle), Jamshedpur, K Z Bhutia, Divisional Forest officer (Jamshedpur) and Director of TSZS Vipul Charaborty.
This year emphasis was given on plantation of more indigenous varieties of plant such as Sal, Mahua etc, besides fodder trees like Peltophoum (copperpod) and Gulmohar.
About 50 students from various schools have participated in the inaugural function.
In an attempt to encourage visitors, the TSZS has put up a sale counter of saplings of endemic medicinal plants in the zoo premises.
Talking to newsmen, Singh said Van Mahotsav, which is a pan India program, was celebrated during this period of the year as plants would grow rapidly during the rainy season with minimum risk of casualty.
Singh said the greenery and forest cover in the state has increased with over 29 per cent of forest cover recorded last year.
