To keep city green, UT to plant 2.52L saplings this yr

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11

Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore today released the “Greening Chandigarh Action Plan, 2019-20”, prepared by Greening Chandigarh Task Group, at Punjab Raj Bhawan here.

According to the plan, 2,52,000 saplings will be planted during 2019-20. The Forest Department has been assigned the plantation target of 65,000 saplings, the horticulture wing of the Engineering Department 22,000 saplings, and the Municipal Corporation 40,000 saplings. However, the balance is to be achieved by the three greening agencies either through free distribution or by selling saplings.

Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chandigarh, said: “UT takes pride in having preserved about 41 per cent of the total area under forests and green cover. To increase this green cover, “Greening Chandigarh Action Plan 2018-19” has been prepared and will be implemented by all greening agencies.”

Against the target of 63,000 saplings, the Forest Department has planted 68,300 saplings and against 55,000 saplings’ target, it has distributed 59,602 saplings for free to the residents of Chandigarh, NGOs, schools, colleges etc.

Against the target of 20,000 saplings, the Engineering Department (Horticulture) has planted 33,960 saplings. The Municipal Corporation (horticulture wing) has planted 42,352 saplings against the target of 40,000 to help increase the green cover of the city.

Encouraged by the previous year’s results, the three green bodies had chalked out a programme to continue the efforts with the renewed zeal during year 2018-19. The achievement is 116 per cent as 2,82,822 saplings were planted against the target.

On the occasion, the Governor also released a pictorial guidebook “Single-use Plastic and Polythene Ban in Chandigarh” prepared by the Department of Environment, which contains all information regarding plastic items banned and allowed in Chandigarh so as to help the public for reference purposes.

Work divided

Dept Plantation target

Forest 65,000

Municipal Corporation 40,000

Engineering 22,000

(horticulture wing)

.