Jammu’s going green today with a massive tree-planting drive launched in urban parks and rural villages to counter August’s flood damage. Led by the Forest Department at Bagh-e-Bahu, over 5,000 saplings—neem, peepal, and banyan—were planted by 1,000 volunteers, including students and local groups. “Trees hold our soil; they’re our shield,” said forest officer Priya Gupta, pointing to eroded hills in Reasi where landslides hit hard. Rural areas like Akhnoor joined in, with 2,000 saplings added along riverbanks.
The floods washed away 10,000 hectares of forest cover, per a September 17 report, making mudslides a risk with IMD’s rain alerts. The ₹8 crore initiative, backed by flood relief, aims to plant 50,000 trees by year-end. Urban spots like Jammu city’s parks get 60% of the funds, but villages are key, with panchayats leading local efforts.
Posts on X, like show kids planting with smiles, though some worry about upkeep—past drives lost 30% of trees to neglect.
Volunteers like Sanjay Kumar from Rajouri see it as hope: “Our fields need this to stay safe.” But challenges loom—rural areas lack watering systems, and urban saplings face pollution. The department’s training locals to care for trees, but more funds are needed. This drive’s a start to heal Jammu’s scars, but it needs all of us. Join in—check local events with #JammuGreen.