Buguda: The forest department has decided to distribute/sell 1.30 lakh saplings this year in regions under Buguda forest division in Ganjam district, a report said Friday.
While about 30,000 free saplings would be given as per the requirements of various schools and blocks, the balance one lakh saplings would be sold at Re 1 each to the public, said Buguda divisional forest officer (DFO) Prashant Kumar Sahoo.
Giving more details, Sahoo said 40,000 saplings were grown at Buddhakhole nursery; 20,000 at Maa Sankulei nursery; 30,000 at Manitara nursery; 20,000 at Karchuli nursery; and 20,000 saplings at Kumunda nursery.
The varieties of saplings include teak, jamun, shishu, pomegranate, gulmohur, amla, wood apple, peepal, moon beam and others. Five sales counters have been opened for selling of saplings in the nurseries at Kumunda, Manitara, Buddhakhole, Karchuli and Shankulei.
The sale has begun from this month and people who are interested to buy the saplings have to submit the photocopies of their Aadhaar and voter identity cards, officials said.
One person cannot buy more than 20 saplings from the sales counters, it was learnt.
PNN