Special drive to enhance green lungs soon

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 15

In a bid to enhance the green cover in the district through afforestation, the Forest Department will soon start a special drive for planting over three lakh saplings across the district under the Tandarust Punjab mission.

Divulging details, Divisional Forest Officer Vikram Singh Kundra said the department was fully geared up to start the ambitious drive to ensure that the green cover was increased in the district.

He said under the drive, around 1.69 lakh saplings would be given directly to residents, free of cost, for plantation. Around 1.50 lakh saplings would be planted in government offices and buildings besides other vacant land.

The Divisional Forest Officer said the sole aim of the drive was to ensure maximum green cover in the district through the planting of trees.

He said besides enhancing the green cover, the drive would also help in making the district clean, green and pollution-free. During the drive, special focus would be laid on planting site-specific plants, so that they could grow well in a conducive environment.

Meanwhile, Forest Range Officer Davinder Singh said besides traditional plants such as neem, drek, mango, jamun, kachnar and others, priority was also being accorded to plantation of medicinal plants like Arjun, harad and bahera.

He said besides from ensuring good environment, these plants were also important for human health. Soliciting the support of people in the noble cause, the Divisional Forest Officer called upon them plant and upkeep atleast sapling for the sake of their coming generations.

He said people could also order a sapling for them free of cost through the ‘i-hariyali’ app by downloading it from Google play store on an android phone.