FOREST DEPARTMENT PLANTS MORE THAN 15 LAKH TREE SAPLINGS: FOREST MINISTER

TO KEEP OUR STATE GREEN, MORE THAN 2 CRORE TREE SAPLINGS TO BE PLANTED: SADHU SINGH DHARAMSOT
SAYS PANCHAYATS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MAINTAIN TREE SAPLINGS

Ludhiana, August 4, 2018: Punjab Forest Minister Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsot today said that for ensuring that our state stays green, more than 2 crore tree saplings would be planted in different parts of Punjab and till date, 15 lakh tree saplings have already been planted. He said that trees play a vital role in everyones life. He said this while attending a tree plantation drive at village Dharaur near Sahnewal, here today.

While addressing the gathering, Mr Dharamsot said that to achieve this target of tree plantation, the Forest Department is taking help of panchayats as well as other departments. He said that that the panchayats are being provided ready to plant tree saplings and the saplings would be maintained by the panchayats as well.

Mr Dharamsot said that the i-Hariyali app launched by the Punjab Government to ensure clean and green environment to the people of the state as well as increase the green cover, has got massive response across the state and till date, 2.70 lakh people have downloaded it. He also said that under the Ghar Ghar Hariyali scheme, free saplings are being provided throughout Punjab. He further said that through i-Hariyali app, the forest department has provided the facility to the people of making the bookings with regard to the choice of saplings sitting at home with just a click. He said that till date, lakhs of tree saplings have been supplied by the Forest Department ever since the mobile app was launched on June 5, 2018.

He said that as per the Forest Survey of India 2017 report, there has been an increase of 35,583 acres in the area under forests in Punjab. He also urged all the social organisations working in the state as well as the residents to come forward to save the environment. He said that all enthusiast and willing organisations will be roped in to work in tandem for plantation and conservation drive under Mission Tandrust Punjab. He said that people should voluntarily plant and take care of tree saplings and emphasised on planting maximum saplings across the state.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included MLA Mr Kuldeep Singh Vaid, Mr Kamaljit Singh Karwal, President Nagar Council Sahnewal Capt Sukhjit Singh Hara, village Dharaur Sarpanch Mr Jaswinder Singh Bhalla, DFO Mr Charanjit Singh Kooner, besides several others.