Bihar to plant 2.63cr saplings in 2012-13:Sushil

Replying to a debate in the legislative council on the forest and environment department`s budget of Rs 100 crore, Modi, in his capacity as the forest and environment minister, said 2.63 crore saplings will be planted in the next fiscal year to increase the forest coverage in the state.

Under the Bihar Greenery Mission, included in the 10 year-long agriculture road map for the state, it has been decided to increase the forest cover in the state from 9.72 per cent to 15 per cent by 2016-17.

Modi said that keeping in view the requirement of large quantity of quality saplings the forest and environment department has proposed to set up high-tech nurseries at Betiah, Motihari, Muzaffarpur, Rajgir, Buxor, Dehri, Bhagalpur and Katihar.

Besides, steps were taken to revive 63 nurseries of the forest and environment department spread over 563 hectares to meet the requirement of quality saplings.