Srinagar: Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday launched the ‘Green J&K Drive’, aimed at planting 50 lakh trees by 2020 in the state, at Zabarwan Hills in this summer capital, Srinagar. 

The Governor, along with other dignitaries, planted the saplings to mark the beginning of a massive afforestation drive in the state, Raj Bhavan spokesperson said on Monday.

Malik observed that the drive has been launched under a major environment-friendly initiative of planting 50 lakh trees in the state by June 2020.

The Governor said extensive plantation drive undertaken by the Forest Department and its allied wings by involving Panchayats, Civil Society and other stakeholders to plant trees alongside roads, railway lines, rivers, streams, canals , over degraded forest land, areas retrieved from encroachment, and institutional areas etc will go a long way to preserve and further enhance the rich forest wealth of the state. 

He observed that in the initial stage, nine lakh plants of various indigenous species will be planted over the identified earmarked areas during monsoon season in Jammu region to be followed by plantation in Kashmir during November-December and thereafter in March-April to achieve the target. 

The Farm Forestry and Agro-forestry will be promoted by providing quality growing stock and other technical inputs to farmers and developing market linkages for proper sale of their produce.