Foresters at theDalmaWildlife Sanctuary (DWS) have launched a drive to develop anurseryof 50,000saplingsto rejuvenate the green cover and to provide an earning opportunity to dwellers living in the foothill villages amid the Covid-19 pandemic that has rendered many daily wagers jobless.

Pockets like Hansada, Saherbera, Somadih, Dangdum, Lailam, Koira and Dangardih among others which form part of the 192 sqkm forest area of the sanctuary will be covered under the plantation drive.

According to foresters, the addition of bamboo saplings in the drive is to check incidents of wildelephantsentering into human habitation. They said the drive would be conducted during the pandemic when no visitors would arrive at the sanctuary.