DESPITE spending huge money on planting trees every year, the Forest Department has apparently failed in terms of taking proper care of the planted saplings. It is due to lack of proper maintenance only that the tree guards installed by the department have either broken or got damaged and thus not proving out to be effective in safeguarding the saplings planted. It needs to be mentioned here that several tree guards have been installed by the Forest Department by spending lakhs to keep the saplings safe but due to alleged negligence, the tree guards are in a very pathetic condition. A big campaign named Harit Kranti Yojana was launched in July last year. Under the campaign, the state government appealed to everyone to join this campaign and plant more and more trees.

 

Many MPs, MLAs, other public representatives and Government officials also participated and everyone planted saplings in their respective areas. The government gave responsibility to the department for spreading awareness about the campaign. Besides, the government also provided employment to the people of Self-Help Groups under MGNREGA. A single tree guard was prepared at Rs 450 and the responsibility of taking care of it was given to the department. But now, due to the alleged departmental negligence, the tree guards, installed after spending huge money, have got damaged and thus left of no use. Keskal Divisional Forest Officer BS Thakur said that all the tree guards that have broken or have got damaged will be replaced with the new ones.