Chandigarh, December 21:
With a view to ensure the increase in forest cover in the State as well as leaving a clean and green environment for the future generations, the Forests and Wildlife Preservation Department under the guidance of Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak initiated a score of path breaking initiatives during 2025.
The novel measures include developing 8 Forest & Nature Awareness Parks. Four of these parks are being developed in Pathankot, 2 in Patiala and 1 each in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur under the Greening Punjab Mission.
The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department under the tutelage of Cabinet Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak is working on war footing with regard to the completion of these projects. In Pathankot, Environment Parks are coming up at Village Gharota (0.50 Hectare), Kataruchak (0.75 Hectare), Panchayat land at Haibat Pindi (0.60 Hectare) and ITI Bamiyal. Likewise, the environment parks are in the process of being developed in Patiala at two spots including Baron Minor. In Amritsar, environment park is coming up at village Jagdev Kalan Pul while a Van Chetna Park is underway at Bassi Purani in Hoshiarpur.
As regarding the park at Haibat Pind, the work concerning nature trail with interlocking tiles has been completed while the installation of play equipments and the open air shelters (Gazebo) is currently underway. At Gharota also, the work concerning nature trail with interlocking tiles has been completed while the installation of play equipments and the open air shelters (Gazebo) is currently underway. In Village Kataruchak, the work to install nature trail with interlocking tiles and the play equipments installation is continuing at a very rapid pace.
It has been the sincere endeavour of the State Government to ensure maximum possible green cover as well as undertake measures to protect the environment for the sake of posterity. In this regard, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department, Punjab, drafted ‘The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2025’ with the aim to maintain green cover, ensuring ecological balance and preventing the pollution of environment besides conserving the soil.
The Act would be extendable to all the urban areas of Punjab. As per the act, the limits of a Nagar Council, Municipal Corporation, Notified Area Committee, Town Area Committee or any Urban Development Authority/Body. It also has the provision of a Tree Officer which means an Executive Officer in the urban local bodies in Punjab or any other officer so notified by the State Government.
Besides, the fencing work was completed at the Chhatbir Zoo at a cost of Rs. 1.33 Crores and the upgradation of facilities apart from beautification was also done.
