13-cr project for greening of Kandi area on the cards

NAWANSHAHR, July 9: About 60 lakh saplings would be planted in Punjab during the rainy season this year and under a special afforestation pr...

NAWANSHAHR, July 9: About 60 lakh saplings would be planted in Punjab during the rainy season this year and under a special afforestation project, 13,576 hectares would be brought under forest cover. At present, the forest area in Punjab stands at 5,440 sq km which forms only 5.76 per cent of the total area of the state. This was stated by Master Mohan Lal, the Forest, Legal Affairs and Welfare of Freedom Fighters Minister, Punjab while addressing a gathering of newly-elected panches and sarpanches at the tehsil complex in Balachaur today.

The minister revealed that with the help of a Japanese-aided 409-crore project, efforts would be made to increase the area under forest cover by about 10 per cent in Punjab. In Anandpur Sahib, a lion and deer safari would be introduced in an area covering 275 acres. He said the state govt was also taking special steps for the proper upkeep and maintenance of 10 sanctuaries in Punjab.

Under another special scheme, three types of forestry — `shaheedi’ forestry, `pavitar’ forestry and social forestry, would be undertaken in Punjab. While under the first two categories, trees would be planted in the names of martyrs and gurus, pirs and other religions personalities, in the third category trees would be planted by road sides, in public places and on various government and non-government land, said the minister.

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Further, with a view to greening the Kandi area, a 13-crore project is on the anvil, he said and added that persons taking keen interest in making the environment green would be honoured at the Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanati functions.

Master Mohan Lal launched the plantation drive by planting a sapling on the occasion at the tehsil complex while the state Forest Department distributed different kinds of seeds to the panches and sarpanches.

Nand Lal and Mohan Lal, both MLAs from Balachaur and Banga respectively, S.S. Sodhi, SSP; Nawanshar Ajit Singh, DFO, Balacahur; Jarnail Singh, member, District Planning Board Nawanshar, were also present.

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