File picture of school students taking part in a recent plantation programme in Sambalpur

Sambalpur, July 20: The Sambalpur Development Authority (SDA) has decided to initiate a plantation drive in the town.

The SDA today organised a meeting for this purpose, which was attended by officials of the municipality, and forest, public works and horticulture departments. Representatives of several social welfare organisations also attended the meet.

Official sources said: “A committee has been formed to identify roads where the plantation programme will be undertaken. It was decided in the meeting that apart from major roads of the town, plantation programme will also be carried out along Ring Road, Farm Road, Ainthapali, G.S. Park, S.R.I.T. Colony, Jagannath Colony Park and Commissioner Colony.”

“This is an initiative to make the town greener. The forest department will provide the saplings. The committee, which was constituted today to look after the town’s plantation, will submit a report within a stipulated period. The plantation programme will begin very soon,” said Bijaya Kumar Mohanty, chairperson of Sambalpur Development Authority.

“Most of the saplings will be planted along roads and on road dividers. Around 1,000 saplings will be planted in the first phase,” Mohanty said.

“We welcome this initiative of the development authority. However, they should not limit their programme to plantation only. They should also take initiative to protect saplings by putting up fences around them. Otherwise, the programme will never be able to meet its desired objective. Care should be taken to ensure survival of the plants,” said Basanta Hati, a local resident.