In its efforts to increase green cover, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd is in the process of planting 30,000 saplings along its more than 700 km route network during the current monsoon period.

Sudha Krishnamurthy, Public Relations Officer of Konkan Railway in Mangalore, said that the corporation has been planting saplings all along the 65 stations under its jurisdiction.

A press release by the corporation said here that the planting of saplings is being taken up mainly at identified yards and cuttings along the railway line. Konkan Railway’s rail network passes through Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.

In the last three years, Konkan Railway has planted over one lakh saplings of various trees along its route. This includes ornamental trees, fruit-bearing trees, shade-providing trees and medicinal plants.

The press release said that Konkan Railway consults local agriculturists and plantation owners for carrying out such activities to take their expert views on the type of trees to be grown depending upon the site conditions.

The roots of the plants can penetrate deep enough in the soil to sustain high rainfall and wind velocity. None of the plants adversely affects the alkalinity and water table of the soil, it said.

Konkan Railway has planted 1,000 saplings of mango and cashewnut trees on the berms of a cutting at Pomendi in Maharashtra. The saplings have now grown to a height of about 2 metres, the release said.

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