Chandigarh, July 7:
The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department, Punjab is chalking out novel initiatives & plans in respect of 2025-26. Of the paramount importance among these is exploring the possibility of a pilot project of planting huge saplings of flowery variety along the highways especially at Sangrur, Jalandhar to Amritsar road, Pathankot to Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib and at village Khatkar Kalan on Phagwara – Chandigarh Road.
Besides, a poetry contest would be held on July 23rd in Batala in the memory of renowned Punjabi poet Late Shiv Kumar Batalvi on his birth Anniversary. The contest would be held in Primary, Middle, Secondary Schools and College student categories and would be centered on the theme of Trees & Environment Protection. The first 3 winners in each category would be given cash prizes.
In order to expand the area under Forest in Punjab, the State Government has envisaged ‘Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Haryaval Sankalp’ which would involve plantation of 3.50 Lakh saplings in every district during the year 2025-26.
While presiding over a meeting at the Forest complex in Sector 68 with regard to the plantation initiatives set to be undertaken during 2025-26, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak was apprised by the senior officers of the Department that Van Mahotsav also be organized in each District and saplings would be made available to the people at the nominal rate of Rs. 2 per sapling.
Apart from this, plantation under Compensatory Afforestation scheme would be done in 582.252 Hectare Area. Besides, soil and water conservation projects would also be initiated in 50 Hectare Area in Pathankot District.
The Minister was also apprised that under Green Punjab Mission during 2025-26, 3.31 Lakh saplings are set to be planted in 331 hectare area in Schools, Colleges, Punjab Mandi Board & Markfed. As many as 52 ‘Pavittar Van’ would be established as part of ‘Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Pavittar Van’ scheme. Furthermore, 289 ‘Nanak Bagichis’ would be set up in the educational institutions and 93 would be established in the Industrial areas.
As far as plantation along the link roads is concerned, 2.50 Lakh saplings of Popular and Drek varieties would be planted while 3 lakh saplings of Eucalyptus variety would be planted.
The Minister while appreciating the blueprint for plantations, emphasized that the concept of Agro Forestry must be given boost as it promotes bio diversity. The Minister also called for the need to sensitize the people about environmental protection for the sake of leaving a healthy beathing space for our future generations.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of the Forest Force) Dharminder Sharma, APCCF cum CEO PUNCAMPA Saurav Gupta, APCCF (Administration) Basanta Raj Kumar, CCF (Hills) Nidhi Srivastava, CF Shivalik Circle Mr. Kannan were among those present on the occasion.
