Admn plans to recover lost green cover in 2 years

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 27

The holy city of Amritsar which was known for its green lungs lost its green belt to a great extent in the name of various development works. The plan came under a scathing attack by local residents who expressed their dismay over unmindful chopping of fully grown trees.

Now, in order to compensate the loss and enhance the green cover in the city, the district administration in association with different NGOs has come up with a plan to plant trees at various vacant places and roadsides.

Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha today held a meeting with NGOs and officials of the district administration and other departments in this regard.

In a statement issued here, the Deputy Commissioner said that with the help of the Public Works Department, the Municipal Corporation, the Amritsar Improvement Trust, the Forest Department and other authorities concerned, he had identified roads, parks, passages and chowks where these plants would be planted.

“A detailed plan has been envisaged not only to make the city green, but also make it beautiful by planting floral trees, which are traditionally grown in Punjab. The plants were selected keeping in view the road width and the requirement of the area,” said Sangha. He said such plants would not create hurdles or obstacles for local residents. “We have even considered the colour of flowers, height of the trees and their spread,” said the Deputy Commissioner while adding that his aim was to recover the lost green cover in the next two years.

He said the administration had chosen the plants not only from the government nursery but also from private nurseries. Among the places where these plants would be planted include Gole Bagh, Sakatari Bagh, 40 khuh, the historical Ram Bagh, 395 parks under the Municipal Corporation, Chamrang Road, Sultanwind Road, Bhagtanwala Road, Baba Fulla Singh Road, Gobindgarh Fort Road, San Sahib Road, 22-number railway phatak, Majitha Road, Maqbool Road, Court Road, Green Avneue Road, Kennedy Avenue Road, Anand Avenue, Race Course Road, Industrial focal point, Golden Avenue Road, Anngarh Road, Lawrence Road, Khandwala to Amritsar bypass road, Taylor Road, Islamabad Road, Dhapai Road, Ram Tirath Road, etc. More than 6,500 saplings would be planted at these places, he said.