Chandigarh: The Punjab Forest Department has announced to plant 2 crore saplings this year under “Mission Tandarust Punjab”. A government release states that more than 10 lakh saplings have already been distributed so far.
Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said that in a bid to increase the green cover in the state, various others departments would also be involved in this mission. He categorically said that 2 crore saplings would be planted in the areas under Public Works department with the help of non-government organizations, schools, colleges, universities, various government and private offices, Panchayats and municipal councils.
“The i-Hariyali App scheme of the department is successfully running and more than 80 thousand persons have downloaded this app so far, whereas we have received 35 thousand orders to get different types of saplings”, said the Forest Minister. He said that up till now, 5 lakh saplings have been distributed through this app, whereas under different schemes more than 5 lakh saplings have been provided to the people. Emphasizing on the need to protect saplings after plantation, he said that mere planting a sapling isn’t enough but it should be ensure that a sapling blooms into a tree. He also instructed the officers to prepare the record of those, who received saplings free-of-cost throughout the state to monitor the growth of the plants.