Strategies to regain green cover in Puducherry

The severe cyclonic storm which crossed the coast on December 30 last year had caused extensive damage to the green cover, uprooting more than two lakh trees in urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

The strategy planned by the forest department was aimed at rectification of deterioration of ecological and environmental balance, an official source said. Besides encouraging voluntary organisations, educational institutions and other stakeholders to go in for massive planting of saplings, the department also keeps a tab on those felling trees in the garb of removing debris and trees that could be rejuvenated by replating them.

Those indulging in cutting such trees would be brought to book and the department has appealed to the people to play a proactive role and bring to notice of the authorities whenever they came across cutting of trees by any section of people. The department has already launched `massive green cover programme` and in a year`s time the planting of around two lakh saplings would be achieved.