To keep track of trees, state to use geo-tagging

Half the saplings planted at Mahim last year were either dead or dying. File Pic

After mid-day highlighted how trees planted by the state last year had withered in neglect, the forest department has decided to use geo-tagging to track each of the 4 crore saplings it plans to plant this year. Geo-tagging will make it easier to get details about the locations and the agencies taking part in the statewide plantation drive.

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In an April 26 report, mid-day had pointed out how half the trees were dead or dying at Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) in Mahim, where the state had kicked off its ambitious tree plantation drive last July. Interestingly, trees that were planted by VVIPs, such as the chief minister, were well cared for. On the other hand, trees planted by the common man had been left to dry up.

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The annual plantation drive is the pet project of Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantivar, who said, "We want the plants to survive and, so, we have asked various government departments and NGOs to ensure that they take proper care of the trees that are planted. Our ultimate aim is to increase the green cover in the state. We have also asked participants to click pictures of the location where the plantation is done and to do geo-tagging, so that we can maintain a proper database of the plantation that is conducted," added Mungantivar.

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Workers have already started digging pits for the plantation and a district-wise database is being compiled on the forest department's website. The forest department intends to plant a total of 50 crore trees within three years. Last year, as many as 2.82 crore saplings were planted across the state. A total of 16 government departments and hundreds of citizens had taken part in the drive.