VARANASI, July 9 -- "Amrit Vans" will be developed in 155 village panchayats across eight development blocks of Varanasi, with saplings to be planted at these sites during a mega plantation drive scheduled for July 9. The district aims to plant a total of 18,087,500 saplings as part of the campaign. Chief development officer Himanshu Nagpal informed that the establishment of these Amrit Vans will be started during the mega tree plantation drive scheduled on July 9. Under this scheme, Amrit Van will be established in about 155 Gram Panchayats under the eight development blocks. There is a plan to plant 400 to 500 saplings in each Amrit Van. For the protection of these plants, Amrit Van will be surrounded by wires and a local watcher will be appointed to take care of fertilizers, water etc. Deputy commissioner self-employment Pawan Kumar Singh said that preparations have been made for the tree plantation campaign 'Ek Pend Maa Ke Naam'. Instructions have also been given for security arrangements and geo tagging of the plantation site. Species like teak, sheesham, arjun, behada, drumstick are being included in these plants, which are also considered useful from economic and medicinal point of view. Nagpal said that the roads of 162 villages under eight development blocks of Varanasi will be made Amrit Marg. An Amrit Marg of around five hundred meters will be developed in each of these 162 villages. Together it will cover around 150 km long Amrit Marg. Pawan Kumar Singh said that to ensure the safety of the plants planted on Amrit Marg, tree guards will be installed and a guard will be deployed, who will regularly take care of and monitor these plants....