Dhanbad: The district forest department has conducted a massive plantation drive along the Damodar and Barakar rivers in Nirsa and Sindri, respectively, to prevent erosion of the river banks and accumulation of silt in river beds, which is one of the main reasons for flooding.
Over 64,000 saplings of a variety of fruit, ornamental and medicinal plants have been planted along 10.69km area of the rivers flowing through the district out. Around 34,000 saplings have been sown on the bank of Barakar in Nirsa along Nirsa-Jamtara Road while around 30,000 saplings have been planted on the bank of Damodar in Sindri from Domgarh to Saraska at cost of Rs 10 lakh per kilometer this year.
Sharing details, Dhanbad divisional forest officer Saurabh Chandra said, "We have almost completed the plantation work. Only some saplings, which have been damaged by animals, are being replanted now."
He said they were planning to bring 20km of land along the rivers within the ambit of the drive next year.
"Though currently the plantation is being carried out under various state government schemes, next year we will try to carry out the drive on the bank of the Damodar under the Centre's Namami Gange project," Chandra said.
The divisional forest officer said Mango, Jamun, Kadam, Pipal, Bargad, Sesame and Arjun were some of the most common trees that have been planted.
"In the highlands, we have planted Peltophorum and Gulmohar," Chandra said, adding that the saplings have been planted at a distance from bank so that they don't destroyed by the flood.
On the advantages of plantation along the river banks, he said it would prevent soil erosion that often leads to a change in the course of the river and results in flooding.
"The second biggest advantage of the plantation along the river bank is prevent of siltation in river and thereby ensures the availability of ample water in the river round the year and prevents the release of extra water from the dams such as Maithon Dam on Barakar river in Nirsa," Chandra said.
He said the major areas covered during the plantation included Vishal Pahari, Laghol and Barbendia and Domgarh.
"The areas that have been left out this year will be taken up in the next year ," Chandra said.
