Smriti van to promote afforestation

BHOPAL: In a bid to promote afforestation in unique manner, Madhya Pradesh forest department will soon develop a 'Smriti van' (memorial park) in Gwalior where people will be motivated to plant saplings in the memory of their dear ones.

"The forest department was preparing special saplingss for starting the park. Once the saplings are planted, the department will take care of the park", Minister of State for Forests Narayan Singh Kushwah said on Tuesday.

Voicing concern over declining forest cover, the minister said people should be made aware of the benefits of forests and motivated to plant sapplings.

"Every individual should take a pledge that he would plant 20 saplings during his lifetime. This will help tide over the crisis", he said.

Kushwah said the state government was providing gas stoves to families living in the forest areas through the forest conservation committees.

The government will also provide necessary quantity of firewood to the forest dwellers, he added.