Punjab Newsline, Shimla, February 13-
To address the increasing frequency of landslides in Himachal Pradesh, the State Govt is introducing a bio-engineering initiative to curb this problem. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said here today that a pilot project has been initiated to cultivate Vetiver grass, known for its deep and dense root system that stabilizes soil and prevents erosion.
He said “Vetiver grass is widely used worldwide for soil conservation, particularly in landslide-prone areas, highway embankments and riverbanks. Recognizing its potential, the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), in collaboration with the Vetiver Foundation–Climate Resilience & Sustainability Initiatives (CRSI), Tamil Nadu, has undertaken this project to develop sustainable mitigation strategies against landslides.”
As part of the initiative, HPSDMA has requested CRSI to provide vetiver nurseries to ensure adequate availability of plants before the 2025 monsoon season. In response, CRSI has supplied 1,000 vetiver grass saplings free of cost and these saplings have been planted in a nursery established at Berti in District Solan in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.