The Katsina state government says it would plant 204, 000 hectares of a special tree, known as the “Sakura tree”, to combat desert encroachment in the state.

Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim, the Commissioner for Environment, told the newsmen on Tuesday in Katsina that 6,000 hectares would be established in each of the 34 local government ares of the state.

The commissioner said the project would be implemented in collaboration with Clean Air Organisation, a Japanese NGO on environment.

“The trees are resistant to drought and grow rapidly in the desert,’’ he said.

Ibrahim said that the government would engage 3,000 people who would plant and nurse the trees in all the local government areas.

He said the tree would assist in controlling desert encroachment not only in the state, but across the north, as well as control erosion in the eastern and western parts of the nation.

The commissioner expressed the hope that the initiative would be adopted by other states affected by desertification and erosion.

Ibrahim also said that the government had initiated a ‘’Katsina Green Initiative,’’ under which a one kilometre shelter belt would be established each of the old seven local government areas of the state.

He said the local governments are : Daura, Dutsinma, Funtua, Mani, Malumfashi, Kankia and Katsina.

On sanitation, the commissioner disclosed that N19 million would be used to evacuate drainage in all the 34 local government areas, to combat flood and outbreak of diseases.

He urged the public not to dump refuse in drainage and to always clean their environment.