Haryana to plant 50 million trees in 2010-11

Chandigarh, March 20 : Announcing the launch of its 'Mission Green Haryana', the state government Saturday said 5 crore (50 million) saplings would be planted across the state during 2010-11.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said plants would be made available in the nurseries of the forest department for plantation and free distribution to farmers, public and institutions during the next financial year.

"The forest and tree cover in Haryana would be increased from seven to 10 percent and a peacock breeding centre, the first of its kind, would also be set up in the state," Hooda announced.

He said that the state forests' department is making all out efforts to come closer to the national forest policy goal of having at least 33 percent of the total geographical area under forest and tree cover.

In the current year (2009-10), nearly 2.7 crore (27 million) saplings were distributed free of cost to the public, farmers, schools and other institutions and about 2.3 crore plants had been planted by forest department, Hooda added.