Sangrur NGO plants thousands of trees for green future

Aiming to minimise air pollution, a local non-governmental organisation here has done a yeoman service by planting thousands of trees over the past decade.

The Sri Durga Sewa Dal has panted around 1,300 trees at several places in and around the town besides over 5,000 trees inside government and religious complexes.

The varieties planted by them include amaltas, neem, peepal, gulmohar, kachnar, mango, guava, kinnow, mulberry, pomegranate, peach and Indian gooseberry.

Tree guards are installed around saplings with the money raised from donors, with each of them paying Rs 1,100 as contribution.

Incharge of the tree plantation wing of the NGO Roshan Garg said they started their drive in 2015 by planting saplings near Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital. He said the survival rate of the trees had been high as volunteers took care of the samplings throughout their growth period.

“For the maintenance of every plant, they water these twice a week with four tankers. Besides, a labourer works for nine months in a year for the trimming of the trees and hoeing the soil besides replacing the dead plants,” he added.

Garg said they remove tree guards after three years when the plant fully develops.

“The NGO, with the financial assistance provided by people, sends almost Rs 5 lakh every year on tree plantation and maintenance work,” he added.

Arup Singla, president of the NGO, said they would continue with their efforts to get a “green city” tag for Sangrur and provide its residents a pollution-free environment.