An initiative to plant one lakh bamboo saplings in Vasai-Virar was launched on Wednesday, September 24. The programme was inaugurated by Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, who distributed the first set of saplings. The goal is to protect the environment and support tribal farmers in the area.
The project will cover 87.54 hectares of land. This land includes forest plots that have been handed over to 244 indigenous households under forest rights. Each claimant will receive 600 seedlings per hectare for cultivation. The scheme will provide both climate benefits and steady income opportunities for tribal families.
The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation funded the donation of one lakh bamboo saplings for this drive. The launch event took place at the Mahavir Dham Charitable Trust auditorium in Virar.
Senior officials were present at the event. Deputy Commissioner (Tree Authority) Swati Deshpande and other representatives joined the minister during the ceremony. Large-scale bamboo planting will now begin across the woodland areas of Vasai-Virar as part of the broader project in Palghar district.
Interestingly, there is a larger “Bamboo Mission Plantation” programme in Palghar district which aims to plant one crore (10 million) bamboo trees across Thane and Palghar districts.
Ganesh Naik has also been active in forest planning in the region. In a district planning meeting earlier in July, a book titled “Bamboo Towards Prosperity” was unveiled, and a draft proposal for a 93.4-hectare urban forest park in Palghar was presented. He has also urged planting of local fruit trees (like peepal, mango, bor, jamun) in forest areas.
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