DC: Survival of saplings, not quantity, to be the focus

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 24

Instead of focusing on quantity, the district administration plans to focus on survival of plant saplings, planted during the coming monsoon season to increase the green cover in the city. At a meeting with government officials and members of NGOs and individuals involved in tree plantation drives, Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha set the agenda for the upcoming plantation drive.

He said, “Instead of focusing on planting large numbers of tree saplings, we should concentrate on the survival of each and every sapling that is planted.” The Deputy Commissioner has also asked Municipal Corporation officials to make a plan for the entire city. The plan should focus on flowered and shady trees, he said. Sangha said trees such as Pinkesia, Amaltas, Kachnar, Gulmohar, Moulsari and others, which have a low height and a smaller canopy, should be selected for plantation. He said the MC and the Amritsar Improvement Trust would be involved in regular watering of the saplings to ensure their survival. Besides, the administration also sought eeks help from Padam Shri Baba Seva Singh of Kar Seva Khadoor Sahib known for his tree-plantation endeavours to help in increasing the green cover in the holy city.