54 lakh saplings planted under Shaheed Bhagat Singh Haryaval Lehar; 58 lakh under other schemes
Chandigarh, January 2:
The Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is fully committed to expand the forest cover in the State which stands proved by the fact that the target with regard to planting 1.12 crore saplings was completed by the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department during the year 2022.
Out of this, 54 lakh saplings were planted under Shaheed Bhagat Singh Haryaval Lehar while 58 lakh have been planted under various other schemes.
The department under the visionary guidance of the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak had fixed the next year’s target regarding raising of saplings at 3 crore for which the department would leave no stone unturned.
Besides, in comparison to the Rs. 36 crore income of the Punjab Forest Development Corporation pertaining during the previous year, the corporation is richer by Rs. 29 crore during the first 7 months of the year 2022 and is all set to surpass the previous year mark. Also, the training program of the nursery in charges across the State has commenced from November 17th at Hoshiarpur with the incharges of nurseries in hilly areas being priority.
Various initiatives such as ‘Pavitar Van’(Planting of saplings in 1 or 2 Hectare area), Nanak Bagichi, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Haryaval Lehar are going on with renewed vigour so as to increase the green cover thus paving the way for a clean and green environment.
The development of Sadabrast forest in Ropar and Keshopur Chhamb in Gurdaspur is also a top priority with the department with emphasis on providing facilities in these areas to become centres of attraction.
Another initiative in the pipeline is providing uniforms for employees of the department. This would accord a new look to the department on the other this would also lead to the increasing self confidence amongst the personnel.
Certain projects such as the beautification of the Phagwara-Chandigarh road with saplings of different kind with strict monitoring mechanism in place, are under active consideration.
