Kesar mango planting begins in 50 Chandrapur village panchayats, Collector launches drive at Bhendvi
Collector Vasumana Pant launched the district-level programme at Bhendvi in Rajura taluka, with kesar mango saplings planted in 50 gram panchayats at once.
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A drive to plant kesar mango has begun simultaneously in 50 gram panchayats of Chandrapur district. The district-level launch was held at Bhendvi village in Rajura taluka, where Collector Vasumana Pant started the planting by putting in a graft.
The aim of the initiative is to make gram panchayats financially self-sufficient and to increase green cover. The VB-G RAM G scheme and the District Mineral Foundation fund are being used together for it.
The initiative, conceived by Collector Vasumana Pant and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Pulkit Singh, is being run in 50 gram panchayats of the district. Heads of all departments were present at different locations and planted kesar mango themselves.
For the drive, 35,000 high-quality kesar mango grafts have been brought specially from Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth in Dapoli. To ensure the planting is done scientifically, Dr Amol Dadmal, a scientist of the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, came to Chandrapur himself. He gave gram panchayat representatives and staff detailed training in mango planting techniques, manure management and care.
Water conservation was also linked to the planting. At the call of Rajura Panchayat Samiti Block Development Officer Bhagwat Rajewad, all officers and employees of the panchayat samiti volunteered shramdaan. Through this labour, a vanrai bandhara (a loose-stone check dam) was built at the venue. It is part of drought-prevention measures. It will raise the groundwater level and also benefit the grafts that have been planted.
Those present at the programme included Girish Dhaygude, deputy district coordinator of the VB-G RAM G project; Rajura Tahsildar Omprakash Gond; Block Development Officer Bhagwat Rajewad; Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth scientist Dr Amol Dadmal; agriculture officer Mahesh Vatti; and assistant project officer Hemant Yerme. The sarpanch, deputy sarpanch and gram panchayat officer of Bhendvi, along with all officers and employees of the panchayat samiti, were also present in large numbers.
