German government sanctions Rs 320-crore for ecosystem study project for Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA: German government has sanctioned a Rs 320-crore project to study the eco-system, climate change and its impact and mitigation in Kangra, Palampur and Chamba areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Under the project, to be implemented in five years, a major task would be reclamation of cultivable land by weeding out Lantana grass and replacing it with green grass and broad- leaf trees to meet the requirement of fodder.

Experts from Germany would share their skills to study the eco-system and climate change, its impact on farming and ways to mitigate the adverse fallout.

Reclaiming the land by weeding out Lantana grass and make it suitable for agriculture would be major thrust of the project as it would be major relief to farmers as large tracts of land have been swallowed by fast growing Lantana grass and rendered unfit for cultivation.

These reclaimed land would be made fit for agriculture and fruit trees plants which provide food to wild animals would be planted to keep the animals in their natural habitat.

Due to growth of Lantana grass, which is also known as "Congress grass", farmers are not able to grow green fodder for their animals and are weaning away from animal husbandry activities as they are not able to afford green fodder brought from distant places.

Large tracts of lands in Chamba and Kangra districts are infested with Lantana grass and rendered "unfit not only for agriculture but even for growing green grass" and German techniques would be used for clearing these fertile lands from this grass.