Trees vital to conserve rivers and environment: Punjab Forest Minister

Chandigarh, August 21, 2019: Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said that in present times conservation of trees had become vital to safeguard out rivers and environment.

The views were expressed by the Minister while addressing a workshop organized by the Himalayan Research Institute, Shimla to conserve main rivers of Punjab namely Satluj, Raavi, Beas by enhancing forest cover around these rivers.

Dharamsot said that food or dressing styles may different but everyone needs water and environment alike. He also stated that trees right from its existence starts providing fruits, flowers and shade besides purifying air and even after its end it remains useful to the humans in various ways. He also said that trees prevent soil erosion.

Punjab before its division had a huge forest cover and after independence to end our food dependence on foreign countries Punjab took the lead in ensuring food surpluses for the nation, S. Dharmsot said adding that this process led to reduction of forest cover in state. He also said that to make Punjab green again, in last two years, millions of plants had been made available to people for plantation.

Apprising about the plantation of 550 plants in every village of State on the occasion of 550th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji he said that 56 lakh plants have been planted in 9000 villages so far while rest of 4000 villages would be covered by 30 September. He also appealed the religious organizations to come forward in this campaign.

Earlier, President Chief Forest Jatinder Sharma lauded the Himalayan Institute, Shimla for their initiatives to save natural resources. He further said that around 100 years ago ‘Punjab Land Security Act’ had been implemented to save the land, water and rivers. Apart from Forest Department Punjab, representatives and experts from Chandigarh, Himachal Pardesh and others were also attended the workshop.