NGO to plant 10,000 saplings in Shivaliks

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 7

Trying to involve people in arresting declining green cover in Jammu, NGO Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action (ICELA) has set a target to plant 10,000 saplings of various varieties during the monsoon, especially targeting the Shivalik mountains.

A special meeting of ICELA, J&K Chapter, was presided over by BL Verma, while Capt LK Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion.

Former MLA and convener, ICELA, Ashok Sharma expressed concern over the declining green cover in Jammu and Kashmir especially in two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and lack of concern by people and administration to address the issue.

“As per one scientific estimate, at least 16 trees are required to meet the oxygen requirement of a person. If we calculate the actual per capita requirement of a person, the number is decreasing quite fast,” said Sharma.

Speakers claimed that the situation in Jammu is serious due to rapid urbanisation and Central and state governments should accord top priority to tree planting drives and protection of natural forests.

Meanwhile, National Mazdoor Sangh president Subhash Shastri said Baba Bhair, proud deity King of Jammu, was a great champion of conservation of nature, water bodies and aquatic life and therefore the plantation drive should start from the Behar Devta Dev Sansthan.