 Parkash Singh Badal, CM, and Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani plant a sapling in Fazilka on Sunday. |
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal chose to launch the “Green Punjab Mission” from Fazilka today as the district has a mere 1 per cent forest area against the recommended 33 per cent.
Accompanied by Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, the Chief Minister launched the mission by planting a sapling near Puranpatti village on the Fazilka-Malout road, 7 km from the town.
Under the mission, the state government has set a target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years. On an average, five crore saplings are to be planted annually at a cost of Rs 180 crore.
The mission is aimed at enhancing the state’s forest cover from the existing 7 per cent to 15 per cent in the first phase of the mission.
“The people are suffering from different serious ailments, including cancer, diabetes and hypertension, mainly due to air, water and soil pollution. The main cause of pollution is dearth of trees,” said Badal while addressing a gathering at the local grain market.
Appealing to the people to usher in a new beginning, planting and protecting trees, he directed Forest Department officials to bring all government and private land under the mission.
Countering the allegations of CLP leader Sunil Jakhar that Punjab had gone bankrupt, the Chief Minister said the SAD-BJP government did not require a certificate from the Opposition party on the state’s fiscal condition. He held previous Congress governments, both in the state and at the Centre, responsible for Punjab’s ever-rising debt. “A major part of our debt pertains to the terrorism period….The Union Government has failed to provide any financial package for Punjab,” the Chief Minister said.
Badal denied there any differences between the SAD and the BJP over the selection of Mayor for the Amritsar Municipal Corporation. “The issue will be resolved amicably,” he claimed.
Jyani said both environment and the country’s ecology had been ruined by haphazard growth.
“Friendly animal species, including birds, have vanished due to the ecological imbalance. In such a scenario, growing trees is the only way out,” he said.
The Minister said the beats of forest guards had been reorganised to bring all Punjab villages under the forest cover.
Financial Commissioner (Forest) DS Bains said there was a need to establish large, modern nurseries at all district headquarters to disburse saplings among the people and NGOs.
Parliamentary Secretary (Forest) Nand Lal, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg and GS Dhillon, SSP, were present on the occasion.
PLANTATION DRIVE
- Under the Green Mission, the state government has set a target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years
- On an average, five crore saplings would be planted per year at a cost of Rs 180 crore
- The drive is aimed at enhancing the forest cover in the state from the present 7 per cent to 15 per cent
- Fazilka chosen as the starting point as the district has a mere 1 per cent forest cover against the recommended 33 per cent.
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