Madhya Pradesh: Greenery restored to Devpur forest area in Vidisha: 100 hectares of land freed from encroachment: 50,000 saplings planted, water conservation structures constructed
Vidisha: Efforts to restore the forest in the Devpur Beat of the Sironj Forest Range in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, are bringing greenery back to land that had been under encroachment for years. The Forest Department has cleared approximately 100 hectares of government forest land from encroachment and initiated work to improve its ecological health.
This land had long been used for agriculture, which had impacted natural vegetation, wildlife habitats, soil quality, and local water retention systems. After removing the encroachment through legal action, the department launched a planned restoration program.
Approximately 50,000 saplings have been planted on the reclaimed land. Species such as Bamboo, Khair, and Peepal have been prioritized based on local environmental conditions. As the saplings mature, the area is expected to provide better habitats and boost biodiversity.
Water conservation has also been made a crucial part of the restoration work. Under initiatives like the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, Amrit Sarovar, and Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain, structures such as check dams, stop dams, and percolation tanks have been constructed to capture rainwater and improve groundwater recharge.
'Before and after' photographs clearly show the transformation in parts of the area—shifting from dry, degraded land to a landscape featuring growing vegetation and water conservation structures.
This initiative is expected to benefit wildlife by improving access to water and vegetation within the forest. Local residents have gained employment opportunities through various activities, while livestock owners stand to benefit from the improved availability of fodder. Instead of viewing encroachment removal as a standalone task, the Devpur initiative integrates forest conservation, tree plantation, water conservation, and habitat restoration.