• In a significant decision to boost herbal and medicinal plants cultivation in the country, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to develop 800-km network roads in the state as a ‘Herbal belt’ by planting medicinal and herbal trees along both sides of the road.
• The state government will plant trees like Peepal, Neem, Sahjan along with other herb varieties like Brahmi, Ashwagandha and Jatrofa to promote herbal and medicinal plant cultivation.

Significance of the initiative:

• Planting of samplings will provide raw material for the medicines and will also help in curbing the erosion of land.
• This scheme will help both the development and beautification of the area and bring medicinal benefits along with promoting biodiversity.