Horticulture department to distribute 1 lakh litchi saplings free of cost

Dehradun: The Horticulture department of Uttarakhand has decided to distribute 1 lakh litchi saplings in the city free of cost. Dehradun, once abundant with litchi trees so much so that renowned author Ruskin Bond didn’t forget to mention them in his novels. But since becoming the capital in 2000, the litchi trees paved way for concrete jungles.

Around 30% of Dehradun’s litchi trees have been felled over the past decade and a half according to reports. Dalanwala, Vasant Vihar, Kaulagarh, Rajpur road and the Raipur area were once dotted with litchi trees.Though the authorities have been encouraging farmers to take to the plantation of litchi orchards, it is for the first time that it has decided to distribute litchi saplings in the city.

Admitting that urbanisation has taken a toll on litchi trees, District Horticulture Officer SK Srivastava said the department apart from focusing on the plantation of litchi orchards in village areas had also prepared a work plan under which it would distribute litchi saplings to more than one lakh houses of Dehradun, thereby encouraging its plantation.