Krishnagar, Nov. 22: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate a Vetiver grass (khus) plantation project in Nadia tomorrow to check erosion of river embankments.

The Rs 33-crore is the first Vetiver plantation in the state and will cover a stretch of 744km of embankments of several rivers in Nadia.

Vetiver grass (Vetiveria Zizanioides), derived from the Tamil term " vettiver" and commonly known as khus, is widely regarded as an effective ckeck against soil erosion across the world. It has a finely structured mat-like root that grows about 2-4 metres into the soil. It binds the soil and controls and prevents erosion.

Nadia is one of the most erosion-prone districts in the state. Six major rivers pass through the district - Bhagirathi, Mathabhanga, Padma, Jalangi, Ichchamati and Churni, spanning 94 panchayat bodies.

"A large number of people in the district were displaced from blocks such as Nabadweep, Krishnanagar-I, Santipur, Ranaghat-I, Chakdaha because of erosion. Embankment protection works carried out earlier in these areas, such as bouldering or sandbag-filling, did not prove effective. These measures were costly too," said Nadia district panchayat and rural development department officer Babulal Mahato.

Ratikanta Ghosh, an agronomist at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vidyalaya, said: "It is an initiative the government should have taken much earlier. At present, more than 100 countries across the globe have been using Vetiver to prevent soil erosion. The unfortunate part is that despite its origin in India, the plant is not quite popular in the country."

The Bengal government has contacted P. Vincent, known as the "'pioneer of Vetiver plantation" in India, for technical and educational support on the plantation project. Vincent, also the executive director of the Tamil Nadu-based International Vetiver Organisation, is expected to attend the inauguration tomorrow.

In its first phase, the government has bought 10 lakh saplings from Tamil Nadu. The plantation programme will be commissioned under the Centre's 100-days' job scheme.

The Nadia administration has decided to grow saplings of Vetiver on its own.

"The current market rate of a Vetiver sapling is around Rs 2.50 each, including the transportation charge. We will reduce this expenditure by raising the plants here," Mahato said.