Government has decided to lease out the land on both the sides of railway lines and roads and highways to encourage tree plantations, reports BSS.

Intending members of the public will be given lease of the land for the purpose on softer terms and conditions where tree plantation is possible under certain preconditions. The planters will be allowed to enjoy fifty per cent of the yield and timber of the trees as and when they are grown up.

The decision taken on Monday by the Ministry of Communicattons is aimed at augmenting the tree and timber resources tn the country, keeping ecological balance and checking • environmental degradation.

The terms and conditions are inclusive of non-planting

any sapling within the signal area of railway stations. 200 feet of bridges and culverts and outside the curvature of roads and railway lines, and no cyclone-prone species should be planted.

The species approved by the arboriculture section of Roads and Highways Department of Ministry of Communications are Jarul, shlshu. mehaganl, karai, arjun, neem and acacia among the timber yielding varieties while mango and Jackfruit among the fruit-bearing ones.

Individuals willing to take lease of the land may contact local executive engineers of Roads and Highways and Divisional Railway Managers (DBMS) of Bangladesh Railway as the case may be.