Katra: In an effort to enhance green cover on the Trikuta Hills, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has deployed drones to spray seeds as part of its ongoing afforestation programme.

The drone-based exercise was conducted on a pilot basis in collaboration with a private firm. Officials said the technology is being used to disperse seeds in the upper reaches of the Trikuta mountain range, where steep terrain and safety concerns make manual plantation difficult.

According to the Shrine Board, around 10 lakh saplings are planted annually across the Trikuta region through its conventional plantation drive. While drone-assisted seed dispersal offers access to otherwise unreachable areas, officials noted that its success rate remains limited.

Data from last year showed that drone-based seed spraying resulted in a sapling survival rate of about three to four percent, drastically lower than the nearly 70 percent survival rate achieved through traditional plantation methods.

Despite the challenges, officials said the initiative is being explored as a supplementary measure to support afforestation efforts in difficult terrains, alongside conventional methods.