Shimla, Sep 6 - The 'Queen of the Hills', as this town was fondly called by the British, is going in for massive plantation of deodars to boost the depleting green cover here.

The government plans to plant around 4,000 saplings of deodar in the capital town by encouraging people to take to the drive.

'We have launched the revival of deodar afforestation project to maintain the glory of this historic town as the deodar forest town of India. Under this campaign, around 4,000 deodar saplings would be planted across the town,' Forest Minister J.P. Nadda told IANS.

He said saplings grown for 2-3 years in forest department nurseries would be planted with people's participation.

The government has roped in NGOs and local people for carrying out the plantation drive.

'The aim of the deodar plantation drive is not only to make the hill state more green but is also an initiative to check depletion of the deodar cover that were planted by the British over a century ago,' the minister said.

Each sapling has been given a serial number and its growth would be monitored by the forest department, Nadda added.