Expressing concern over the decline in the forest cover due to rapid urbanisation, widening of roads and doubling of the railway tracks in the State, Haryana Forest Minister, Rao Narbir Singh on Friday said that trees would be axed only where it is important to do so.
The Minister also exhorted the people to plant maximum saplings during the 67th Van Mohotsav being celebrated in the State from July 15.
As per the India State of Forest Report 2015 released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) recently, Haryana’s forest cover has shrunk in the past two years. The forest cover which was 1586 sq km (2013) in the small State of Haryana had gone down to 1584 sq km recording a decline of 2 sq km (around 500 acres).
The rotational felling of trees and diversion of land for non-forestry purposes has led to decline in green cover of Haryana, as per the FSI report.
At present, the forest cover is around 3.58 per cent out of the total area of 44 lakh hectares of Haryana and the State Government has set a target to increase it to six per cent in next five years and make it 10 per cent in the future.
Rao Narbir Singh has urged the people to plant sapling on different occasions like birthdays, marriages, anniversaries and festivals to make them more memorable.
Apart from planting saplings, it is equally important to ensure their upkeep, he said.
The Minister said that a unique scheme “Har Ghar Hariyali-Haryana Ki Khushyali” was launched in the State on the occasion of Van Mohotsav last year with a view to making every house green. Under the scheme, people are encouraged to plant maximum saplings in both rural and urban areas.
He informed that the Chief Minister Manohar lal would be the chief guest at the State level programme on Van Mohotsav to be organised in the village of Budhpur in Rewari. Other Ministers and some MlAs would also be present at the function.
During the Van Mohotsav, plantation would be done on both sides of the National Highways passing through the State. An agreement has been signed with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the purpose, he said.
The Minister said that besides the Forest Department, panchayats, institutions and social organisations should also come forward in planting saplings on vacant Government and panchayat lands. Several places have been identified across the State, where forest area would be increased by doing plantation, he added.