Green belts along Ganga and other rivers in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: All the major rivers of the state, including the Ganga and the Gomti, would soon have an adequate green cover as the government has decided to plant over 2.2 crore trees along their banks.
Focus is on the Ganga which during the annual plantation drive would see over 67 lakh trees along its banks all through its route covering 27 districts in the state. It would be followed by the Gomti which would get over 20 lakh trees.
Out of 25 crore trees that the state would plant in July, over 2.2cr would be planted along the banks of Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Rapti, Ghagra, Saryu, Sharda, Tamsa,Varuna,Betwa and others.More than eight lakh trees would be planted on the banks of the Yamuna and more than 19 lakh on the Rapti banks. Plantation would be done up to 10kms on both the banks of the river. Forest department has got the pits dug and mounds ready for plantation.
Medicinal plants, herbs and fruit-bearing trees will be planted at 3,060 spots identified along rivers, out of which 612 spots are on the banks of Ganga and 255 on the banks of Yamuna. Total area covered would be more than 20,000 hectare.
One of the main objectives is to benefit farmers by helping them increase their income through diversification into growing crops like turmeric, ginger, garlic and onion. Farmers will be given saplings free of cost. To help them market their yield, sources said, the government has proposed tying up with pharmaceutical firms specialising in Ayurvedic medicines.
The area along the river banks would be developed as biodiversity zones. Species which have greater environmental value like neem, banyan and peepal, will also be planted on the banks to conserve the river.
Trees planted along the river will also keep encroachers at bay, conserve groundwater, prevent soil erosion and revive wetlands.