AR launches afforestation project
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 29 2018:
With the commitment of undertaking genuine welfare for the villagers of Tengnoupal district, 12 Assam Rifles undertook an unique project of plantation of fruit bearing trees by the villagers based on the bio-diversity of the area to lead to afforestation, which in addition to providing a source of income to them, said a press release issued by PRO IGAR (S) .
An interactive session with chiefs of all 39 villages of the area along with village authority was held on April 14 and 26 at Tengnoupal Battalion Headquarter in which officials of Forest Department, Tengnoupal and Horticulture Department, Moreh formulated adetailedplan.
For execution of the project, fruit bearing trees like cashew nut, beetle nut, coconut, lemon, orange, tree bean (Yangchak), hatkora, banana, lichi, rubber and certain ornamental trees like gulmohar, pine, uthambal etc are planned to be planted approximately 75,000 in number.
Onemonth preparation time has been given to the villagers for preparation of pits after which each household will be given 150-200 plants approximately in May end.
Officials of Forest Department and Deputy Commissioner, Tengnoupal have assured necessary assistance, said the release.
In the second phase of the project, a cooperative society, fully run by the locals, is proposed to be constituted at the district level which will become the nodal agency for directly marketing products thus evading the middlemen in the complete process, it added.