Bihar moots new plan to increase green cover

Patna: The Bihar government is considering a proposal to launch Vrikshpal (guards of plants) scheme in rural areas under which a Vrikshpal will be given maintenance rights for 30 years over a unit of 350 trees planted on government land in the vicinity of villages.

Forest and Environment Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the scheme, the first of its kind in the country, would be helpful in protection and maintenance of trees planted on government land.
“If a Vrikshpal remains steady and sincere and his/her work is found to be satisfactory then the maintenance rights will be extended for another 30 years,” he added.


The Vrikshpal will have ownership rights over fruits, fodder, flowers and other produce of his trees.
Besides, if the trees fall or dry up due to ant calamity then the money obtained from their sale too would go to Vrikshapal.

“The objective is to increase forest cover from 9.97 per cent to 15 per cent in the state in the next five years,” a senior Forest Department official said.