NGO kicks off plantation drive, adopts roundabout

Tribune news service

Amritsar, July 16

Voice of Amritsar (VOA) has launched a plantation drive by beautifying a Cantonment roundabout. 

Clearing all weeds and Congress grass and planting ornamental plants such as palms, phycus and taporis, volunteers worked in association with the district administration to recover the city’s lost greenery. 

“The roundabout in front of the district courts, between Cantonment and GCW, will be adopted and maintained by the VOA,” said Narinder Dhillon, a VOA executive. 

She said the organization would employ permanent gardeners to maintain the roundabout. 

The campaign was also attended by the district health officer Dr Raju Chauhan and his team, who helped in cleaning the area and watering the newly planted saplings. 

“The coming together of government machinery and NGOs was a welcome sign for the city. The two should always work in unison,” said Dr Rakesh Sharma. 

Seenu Arora, president of the VOA, said the organisation would take the campaign to the Circular road where about 50 pits were dug up. 

“Remember a lot of green belt was lost while widening the Circular road and constructing a divider. The trees chosen for the drive will be shady and also bear fruit. Thereafter, the campaign will be taken to the Loharka road, which is barren and bereft of any green belt,” he added. 

The Loharka road stretch is the most neglected in the city with almost the entire length studded with pits and lack of pavements. 

“The VOA plans to widen the plantation drive to all areas where shady trees are either absent or have been chopped for the BRTS corridor,” he added.