Jammu: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) launched a drone-based afforestation project on Tuesday to increase green cover on Trikuta Hills, where the cave is located. This initiative uses advanced technology for environmental conservation.
Shrine Board CEO Anshul Garg said the board has started using drone-seed technology to target the degraded hills of the Trikuta range. Prime UAV, capable of carrying 10 kg of seeds and operating for 15 minutes, has been engaged for this purpose. The program is planned for the next eight years.
Following directives from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to speed up afforestation with technology, the shrine board conducted a helicopter survey to identify degraded areas and chose drone technology, inspired by its use in Gujarat.
The Trikuta Hills have 11,000 hectares of forest area, and 109 hectares of degraded slopes were identified for the initiative. The drive started today, dispersing seeds of native species like panicum, trifolium, bamboo, khair, pharlai, arjun, sukh-chain, and bottle brush over 109 hectares.
The shrine board prefers seeds of local, soil-binding species and plants one lakh saplings annually on Trikuta Hills. This drone seed dispersal is an addition to the manual planting and will be monitored by drones to ensure maximum survival and improvement of degraded patches.
Over the past 9 to 10 years, the shrine board has planted around 1.7 million plants, maintaining an 80% survival rate. Previously targeting accessible areas, the board is now using drone technology to reach inaccessible slopes. This pilot project aims to establish an independent forest wing team with drone technology.
On July 13, the Jammu and Kashmir forest department started a seed ball plantation drive on the steep slopes of the Udhampur district, using a cable car facility to cover unreachable areas. In 2023, approximately 9.4 million pilgrims visited the cave shrine.
