Post Amphan: 5 crore mangrove saplings planted in Sunderbans

Kolkata: In a bid to compensate the damage caused by cyclone Amphan, the state Forest department has planted 5 crore mangrove

saplings in the entire Sundarbans area in South 24-Parganas district.

"We have completed planting five crore mangrove saplings in the entire Sundarban area through MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and with the help of state Forest Department," said Dr P Ulaganathan, District

Magistrate of South 24-Parganas on Sunday.

Post cyclone Amphan, the Bengal government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the massive sapling plantation drive on World Environment Day this year.

Such a massive plantation drive was never

undertaken before in the

state.

"The expenditure incurred in planting 5 crore mangrove saplings over 250 hectors was Rs 20 crore and 11 lakh man days were generated," Ulaganathan added.

According to sources in the Forest department, more than 16 lakh trees have been uprooted in various districts due to the cyclone.

The state Forest department had set a target of creating 31 lakh man days through its massive plantation initiative titled 'Re-Greening Bengal', which kicked off on July 14—the opening day of week-long Van Mahotsav.

On Thursday, state Forest minister Rajib Banerjee, had said the state would

achieve its target of planting 5 crore mangrove saplings in cyclone Amphan-hit Sunderbans in a month's time.