Using barren mines to develop forest is laudable: CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday said that man-made forests is a commendable step towards conservation of environment and pollution control.

He was inspecting such a forest being developed at the abandoned mines of Nandini in Durg district.

In that forest, medicinal plants have been planted and orchids have been developed over 100 acres.

The Chief Minister also planted a banyan sapling under Jan Van programme, an official communication said.

Forest and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Akbar said: “We have taken several major steps to preserve nature.”

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Rakesh Chaturvedi said the Nandini project has been developed at a cost of Rs 3.30 crores.

The existing Nandini’s forest, spread over an area of 17 km, has teak and gooseberry trees. Now 83,000 saplings have been planted. Within three years the area will be fully developed as a forest.