Patna: The 45km-stretch of National Highway 30 between Patna and Bakhtiyarpur will have green cover.
The environment and forest department has made an elaborate plan, to which the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has given in-principle approval.
"We intend to plant saplings along the stretch of the highway on NHAI land," said Patna circle conservator of forests Gopal Singh. "It will provide green cover to the stretch and add to its beauty. We have already got in-principle approval of the NHAI and preparations for the work have begun."
According to the plan, 45,000 saplings will be planted in three rows. All saplings will be more than 6ft in height to ensure they grow into trees within a year or two. In February-March, ditches will be dug and fertilisers will be mixed with the soft soil.
As the area along the national highway is low-lying and there are high chances of waterlogging, mounds will be made around the ditches to protect the saplings. The planting of saplings will start at the beginning of monsoon.
Singh said considering local conditions, emphasis will be laid on planting water-resistant species of trees like arjun and special attention will be paid to ensure that the saplings, after growing into trees, add to the beauty of the stretch. "We will put barbed wire around the planted saplings to protect them from animals," he added.
"As far as pre-planting preparations are concerned," said Patna divisional forest officer (DFO) S.K. Sinha, "A nursery is being set up to suit the plan at a cost of more than Rs 3 crore. The project cost also involves nurturing of saplings for three years, excluding the year in which those will be planted."
The Patna DFO said there were additional plans to plant 1.2 lakh more saplings this year, including planting 3,500 saplings in the Patna city area.
Officials have identified 1,730 points where saplings measuring 6ft or more will be planted in the state capital, while saplings of smaller sizes will be planted in remaining places.
"We have already identified the places where the saplings will be planted," said the DFO.
