Record 1.87L saplings planted in a day, Chief Secy launches drive

Nitin Jain

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Ludhiana, July 12

In a record of sorts, a whopping 1.87 lakh saplings were planted under the daylong mass plantation drive in the district on Friday.

Chief Secretary Anurag Verma launched the campaign, which was part of the ‘Wake-up Ludhiana for a liveable tomorrow’ initiative.

Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, who is the brain behind the ambitious initiative aimed at transforming the industrial capital of the state into a green, sustainable and climate-resilient city, gave wings to the drive by roping in the entire district official machinery to plant 1,87,269 saplings at 3,231 locations across urban and rural pockets of the district.

“We had fixed a target to plant 1.33 lakh saplings today but our dedicated men and women surpassed it by planting 54,269 more saplings, which accounted for almost 41 per cent up and above the target,” she told The Tribune after the daylong drive.

The Chief Secretary, who planted a sapling at Nehru Rose Garden, here, lauded the initiative and stressed the need for carrying out such drives in a sustained manner to check rising pollution.

Verma impressed residents to extend their support to the ‘Wake-up Ludhiana’ campaign by each person planting at least one sapling to keep surroundings green and clean.

Sakshi urged district officials as well as residents to ensure proper maintenance and growth of each and every sapling till it becomes a tree. “We will ensure that all saplings are well maintained and not uprooted or destroyed,” she vowed while disclosing that 15 lakh saplings would be planted across the district during this monsoon.

The development assumes significance as Ludhiana had figured among 20 most polluted cities in the country with maximum pollution levels in a recent study conducted by the national-level National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

The first-of-its-kind initiative entails engaging government departments, educational institutions, industries and citizens to drastically reduce the city’s carbon footprint, enhance its green cover and prepare it for future challenges posed by climate change.

Sakshi said objectives of the programme were to reduce carbon footprint, enhance green cover, promote sustainable practices, improve climate resilience and engage stakeholders.

She disclosed that key initiatives would involve transforming government offices into ‘green offices’ as a model of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Under the drive, the administration has set a target to achieve 20 per cent green cover in every government office compound. “The strategy will be to utilise vertical gardening and landscaping where space is limited,” she shared.

Besides, a target has been fixed to generate 20 per cent of energy consumption from solar panels by April 1, 2025. For the purpose, solar panels would be installed on rooftops and unused spaces.

The initiative would also involve water harvesting with a target to implement functional water harvesting systems by this monsoon. It would be achieved by installing rainwater harvesting systems and groundwater recharge structures.

Another feature of the programme is converting government offices as “e-offices” by achieving complete transition to e-filing systems by October 31. “It would be done by digitising all documents and minimising paper usage through training and infrastructure upgrades,” the DC said.

The administration would appoint electricity marshals in all government offices to ensure that lights, fans, and other electrical appliances are switched off when not in use, especially during off hours. “Regular monitoring and reporting will be carried out to ensure compliance,” she said.

Let’s wake up: DC

“The initiative is a call to action for every citizen, government office, educational institution, industry and community organisation in Ludhiana. Together, we can transform our city into a green, sustainable and climate-resilient urban centre, ensuring a healthier and brighter future for generations to come. Let’s wake up Ludhiana, and work hand in hand for a livable tomorrow,” said Sakshi Sawhney, DC.

City among 20 most polluted cities

Ludhiana had figured among 20 most polluted cities in the country in a latest study.

Amritsar and Mandi Gobindgarh in Punjab were also listed among the 20 most polluted cities in India with maximum pollution levels, the national-level National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) study had said.

While Ludhiana had been the worst among three most polluted Punjab cities with respect to the PM10 pollution level, Mandi Gobindgarh had the maximum PM2.5 pollutants in the state.

The NCAP study, which was released recently, was conducted by Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences. It examined the annual concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in non-attainment cities from 2019 to 2023 from the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) data.