„h Planting of trees to be completed over three years

„h Centre hails proposal for National Forest Protection Force

Thiruvananthapuram: The Forest Department has decided to rope in headload workers for planting and nurturing trees on roadsides.

The department's latest social forestry initiative, `Vazhiyora Thanal' scheme, is aimed at "greening" major roads in Kerala by planting shade and fruit trees on the sides of carriageways.

The planting will be taken up in a phased manner over the next three years. Nearly 1,524 km. of the National Highway, 4,810 km. of State Highway, 23,170 km. of major district roads and 1,04,257 km. of village roads have been identified for the large-scale social forestry exercise.

Official sources said similar schemes in the past had been only partially successful due to lack of care for planted saplings. Hence, this time, Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has sought the help of headload workers' unions, whose members often spend much time on waysides waiting for work, to implement the scheme successfully.

The trees would be planted at a distance of 50 metres. Almost 4,20,000 Teak, "Poo Maruthu", Techoma, Singapore Cherry, Kani Konna, Chamatha, Neem, Mango, Mahogany, Chara Konna, Rain Tree, Silver Oak, Anjili and Kambakam saplings would be planted along Kerala's road network. The project is estimated to cost Rs.22 lakh. The Forest Department will provide the saplings.

Official sources said Union Minister for Environment and Forests A. Raju has welcomed a proposal by Mr. Viswom to create a National Forest Protection Force at the Union Government level to assist States in tackling serious cases of poaching, illegal felling of forest trees and large-scale encroachments on forest areas.

The department has also sought Central assistance for protecting and "regenerating" the Marayur forests, which are uniquely rich in sandal trees. However, the forests are facing threat from sandalwood smugglers and illegal felling of trees has been rampant. The State has requested the Union Government to exempt the Forest Department from paying annual fee for operating wireless sets.