Over 90K saplings disbursed through ‘i-Hariyali’ app

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 12

Launched with the aim of increasing green cover in the state, the “i-Hariyali” mobile application in Bathinda has led to distribution of more than 93,233 saplings free of cost in the district over the past one month.

Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra said the state Forest Department had launched this app making it easier for people to select plant species of their choice and place orders for the same using the latest technique. He said the technology-assisted help was proving to be a game changer for Bathinda that was witnessing a depleting green cover. It will also enable area residents to create a green and pollution-free Bathinda.

DFOAmritpal Singh said 93,233 saplings had been supplied in one month. These included sukhchain, neem, gulmohar, burma dek, mulberry, amaltas, jacranda, jand, arjun and jamun. The saplings have been distributed to the local Urban Bodies, including 23 nagar councils and nagar panchayats, to 3,436 beneficiaries. In rural areas, it has covered 246 villages and 3,708 beneficiaries. The DFO said using the app, people could order plants from 11 nurseries of the Forest Department located in Bathinda, Gobindpura, Goniana, Bir Talab, Jangirana, Bhagi Vander, Maur, Bir Mandi Phool, Sidhana, Poohla and Dyalpura.

The app is available on the Google Play Store on all Android phones. It enables user to choose a plant ranging from timber, ornamental, medicinal, fruits or ornamental shrubs. Enabled by GPRS, the users are shown nurseries near them from where they could search ordered saplings as per the requirement. Any user, who books a sapling through the app, receives an SMS on mobile which is used to collect that sapling from nursery in a fixed time.