Pulwama, Feb 28: Shar-e Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology Kashmir ( SKUAST-K) kick started a mega plantation drive in Khunmoh area on Tuesday to improve the local ecosystem.
The plantation is being carried out by Varsity’s Division of Silviculture and Agro-forestry, Faculty of Forestry,Behama , Ganderbal in association with Khyber Industries. Around 7000 saplings will be planted during this drive.
Vice Chancellor (VC) SKUAST-K , Dr Nazir Ahmad Ganaie said that this is a joint collaborative programme between the varsity and Khyber Industries to address the issue of environmental pollution in the area .
“The programme has been going on for past many years during which around 25,000 saplings were planted on 10 hectare of land,” he said, adding that through the plantation they aim at improving green belt in the area which has been affected due to cement pollution.
The Vice Chancellor said that a number of cement industries have been established in Khunmoh -Khrew area which cause environmental pollution.
“Through the plantation we want to bring down the pollution level,” he said, adding that it will also help in restoring the surrounding ecosystem.
He appreciated Khyber Industries for taking up the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative and involving SKUAST-K in the mission.
He added that the mortality rate has been very less in the saplings planted in past years and a large area has been turned green.
“We will carry on this project for improving the green belt,” he said.
Prof.G M Bhat, Head Division of Silviculture and Agro-forestry, Faculty of Forestry, said that the joint programme was taken up 10 years ago after carrying out a survey to find which forest plant species can adopt in the area.
He said that they planted two species, Pinus Wallichiana and Deodar.
He added during past 10 years,25,000 saplings were planted on degraded land.
“We established a green belt on degraded land,” he said, adding that the plantation will help in improving the microclimate, adding that today’s drive is a part of the programme started ten years ago.
