Nagaon: The forest department will plant saplings of mahogany, rudraksh and white chandan at public places in Nagaon, Hojai, Morigaon, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts.

According to plan, saplings will be distributed among citizens before summer and the department will guide them to nurture the plants.

Altogether two lakh saplings are kept at 19 departmental nurseries in different locations for smooth completion of the plan. These include 80,000 rudraksh, 60,000 mahogany and 60,000 white chandan saplings.

"Saplings are ready to be planted and we can hand these over to the people once summer sets in," said conservator of forests, northern range, P. Siv Kumar.

According to him, besides public places such as educational institutions, religious sites, community halls, government office premises, the forest department will reach out to tree lovers who want to plant the saplings in their households.

Sib Kumar said: "Our target is to expand green cover. We have lakhs of plants in our nurseries for the reserve forest areas. Endangered species such as bula and teak, among others, are for the reserve forests. We hope mahogany, white sandal and rudraksh will surely attract tree lovers. These are comparatively richer, endangered, costlier and uncommon," Siv Kumar said.

The six central Assam districts were in the news last year for plantation of sia nahor and bula trees in 15 reserve forests. Sia nahor is known for its medicinal value and timber. It was once available on the bank of the Subansiri river. The species is now endangered.

"Encroachment of green areas for human habitation and massive destruction of forest resources are reasons for the decay. We are very proud to say that bula and sia nahor trees are available in the reserve forests of the six districts now," he added.