The Department of Social Forestry has proposed to distribute about one lakh saplings of Shami tree to the Pune Jewellers Association, which is considering gifting the saplings to those who buy gold from them on Dassera which will fall on October 9. The idea is to urge people to plant more trees and save the dwindling Shami trees from vanishing.

The state Social Forestry department has sent a letter in this regard to the president of Pune Jewellers’ Association, Fatechand Ranka requesting him to consider the proposal of distributing Shami saplings to consumers.

“The premise is certainly good and we are keen to implement it this year. But before we move in that direction, we need to hold a joint meeting with the Social Forestry and Association panel,” said Ranka.

Director of Department of Social Forestry, Prakash Thosre said, “We have created a bank of about four lakh Shami seedlings. Out of this, we have plans to sell about one lakh saplings to the jewellers, who can gift them to their consumers. We will rope in the volunteers of National Green Corps (Rashtriya Harit Sena), which has school students among them, for help.” “Apart from jewellers, we are also considering banks and establishments where there will be a flow of customers on Dassera,” Thosre said.