Chandigarh/ SAS Nagar, July 17
Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Wednesday lauded the initiatives of the Punjab Mandi Board and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) aimed at preserving the environment and reducing carbon footprint.
While presiding over a function organized by the Punjab Mandi Board to distribute free plant saplings under the second phase of ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Haryaval Lehar’, Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that this initiative is a significant step towards realizing the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for a cleaner and greener Punjab. The Minister encouraged the citizens to plant more trees while laying special emphasis on farmers appealing them to plant atleast 5 saplings near their tubewells.
Minister ETO praised the board’s efforts to plant trees in all mandis across the state. He also commended PSPCL’s innovative approach of installing ‘Solar Trees’ in Patiala city, which will generate 52,000 units of electricity annually and save 41 tons of carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 1015 fully developed trees.
Meanwhile, Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat announced that the board has exceeded its target of planting 30,000 saplings in 2023-24, with over 33,000 fruit, shade, and medicinal plants already planted. “The target for this season has been set at planting over 35,000 saplings”, he added.
The free saplings were distributed to the public during the function. Saplings were planted at the head office of the Mandi Board and the responsibility of their maintenance was handed over to the officials and employees. Joint Secretary Geetika Singh, Chief Engineer Gurinder Singh Cheema, GM Manjit Singh Sandhu, and other officials and employees of the Punjab Mandi Board were also present on this occasion.
