Ujjain forest department comes up with Kshipra river conservation plan – Times of India

Indore: After the success of the plantation drive in Ujjain ahead of Simhastha, the forest department of Ujjain has started making plans for next Simhatha that would be held after 12 years.In order to turn the banks of the holy river greener and replenish the water in the river, forest department of Ujjain has come up with a Kshipra River conservation plan. A total area of 800 hectares in Ujjain, Indore and Devas would be covered under Green Kshipra project.

The plan would be carried out in five phases over a period of 12-year. “We have submitted the report and are expecting a positive response from the government and local administration,” said Ujjain assistant principal chief conservator of forest PC Dubey.

He said that increasing number of trees on the banks of the river would not only help to curb soil erosion but would also increase the population of birds. “We want to replenish the water of Kshipra so that during next Mahakumbh, we do not have to take water from Narmada,” Dubey said.

However, implementation of the plan would be a tough task for officials as most of the land on which they have planned the plantation, do not belong to the forest department. To resolve this problem, forest department aims to plant fruit bearing trees and usable plants like bamboos, tamarind, jamun and bael that can be used by the owners of the land for making money.

Dubey said that they have received a good response from the local people and administration. Saints, who came during Simhastha, also pledged to support the project.