Kashmir highway turns green as government steps up eco-friendly measures

Kathua, March 21 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has stepped up measures to turn a busy highway into a green zone. The National Highway, which connects the city of Jammu to the smaller Kathua district, is being planted with about 26,000 saplings as part of an initiative to not only beautify it but also to cut down on pollution. Kathua’s social forestry department, which is carrying out the project, has been directed to plant Nerium and Thevetia species that are known to have 90-95 percent chances of survival since they have little water requirements. Singh said that 24,000 plants had already been planted and they were expecting to meet the target by the end of this week. There was a mass deforestation of trees on either side of the road during the construction of the highways.Residents said they were happy that the government was replanting the lost greenery.