Face2News/Chandigarh
A meeting under the Chairmanship of Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary-cum-Secretary Forests was held today to discuss plantation programme during the ensuing monsoon season.
This was in continuation of a meeting held by Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, Administrator UT Chandigarh recently, wherein it was decided to make a comprehensive plantation programme for the monsoon season in 2025 by involving all concerned stakeholders including school and colleges.
Attempts would be made to cover all suitable vacant space in the city. Trees with good foliage, fruit bearing and flowering species would be planted during monsoon season to have maximum benefit of rains which will ensure better growth and survival of saplings. Special care would be taken that the scheme under which specific trees had been planted in different parts of the city is also followed.
Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, Secretary Forests emphasised that this is a very important and time bound task for which a comprehensive plan including plantation sites, number, type of trees species to be planted, schedule of advance work etc. should be prepared in a time bound manner latest by 31st March, 2025 involving all stakeholders.
(SUBHEAD)He also mentioned that school and college students should be involved in the plantation drive. Plantation in all the schools and colleges may be organized through respective Eco-Clubs. Selection of species for plantation in schools and colleges may be carried out carefully in consultation with Forest Department. Plantation of herbal and medicinal plants should also be promoted in schools and colleges, as this will serve the dual purpose of enhancement in green cover as well as the dissemination of useful information related to medicinal and therapeutic usages of medicinal plants among one and all.
Sh. Saurabh Kumar Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden informed that during recently held Greening Task Force Group meeting, plantation targets have been finalized in consultation with Municipal Corporation and Engineering Department. Accordingly, Municipal Corporation and Engineering Department will plant 1.5 Lakh saplings each within their respective jurisdiction. Forest Department will plant 1.25 Lakh saplings and will distribute 75K saplings free of cost to public under ‘Van Vibhag Aapke Dwar’ Scheme.
Plantation of appropriate tree species in the gap areas along the different avenues in UT Chandigarh will also be taken up during monsoon season to further enhance the greenery and treescape character of Chandigarh while maintaining the original Greening concept.
Sh. Mandip Brar, Home Secretary-cum-Secretary Forests advised to seek suggestions of public for plantation drive in the coming monsoon season & for Van Mahotsav. An email and link on the website of Forest Department had been created for the purpose to invite valuable suggestions greeningchandigarh@gmail.com.
During the meeting, Sh. TC Nautiyal, Chief Conservator of Forests, Ms. Prerna Puri, Secretary Education, Sh. Amit Kumar, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Sh. Sanjay Arora, Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation, were also present.
