IKGPTU will establish “Mini Forests” in its all campuses: VC Prof. (Dr.) Ajay K. Sharma 

Amritsar/Jalandhar/Kapurthala: With the mission to establish maximum green area in its all campuses, I.K.Gujral Punjab Technical University has started a green campus campaign with the theme of "Mini Jungle" at my institution. Prof. Dr Ajay Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor, IKGPTU is leading this campaign at all University campus. He launched this campaign "Mini Jungle" first at its Amritsar Campus.The micro forest and vertical garden at Amritsar campus is created with help of ‘the green couple’ Geetanjali Mehra and Rohit Mehra, who have earlier too promoted several green initiatives, the Mini Forest campaign have variety of native, self sustainable plants.

Addressing the occasion, VC IKGPTU Prof. (Dr.) Ajay Kumar Sharma said that there is an urgent need to build an abode for plants and trees through such projects in society that not only houses humans, but also houses other living species too. The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sharma further appreciated and lauded the efforts taken by the Staff of the campus for setting up a project of this magnitude in the campus. He further assured that IKG-PTU will take concrete steps for setting up such projects in various campuses and team will also inspire its affiliated colleges throughout Punjab to plant maximum in their campus under campaign "Mini Jungle". 

Mr. Rohit Mehra, who is an IRS of 2004 batch and currently posted as the Additional Commissioner Income Tax, Amritsar said that environmental conservation through implementation of green technology become imperative today. He said that higher education institutes can play key role in mobilizing society towards environment conservation. He further said that due to the variety of plants, in these mini forests more carbon is absorbed and removed from the atmosphere. This is extremely important in cities where air pollution is a problem.

Planting mini-forests in urban areas can help to decrease the levels of air pollution much more drastically than by just planting a few trees of the same species. He further added that another reason why mini-forests are very desirable is because they greatly increase biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity is a key consequence of the climate crisis and can often lead to species becoming endangered.

Mr. Rohit Mehra further thanked to Mr. Rajat Mahajhan, Manager, HDFC Bank and his team for sponsoring the mini forest project at IKG-PTU Amritsar Campus.

During the occasion Dr. Nagarajan Ramamoorthy, Director-IIM Amritsar, Smt Manju Bala, Principal KCET, Amritsar, Er. Navdeepak Sandhu Deputy Director Corporate Relations and Alumni, Dr. Amit Sarin Director IKGPTU Amritsar campus, Faculty Members, Staff were also present.