To commemorate the 550th parkash purab of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, Punjab Forest Department will lay down 175 Nanak Bagichis across the State.
“175 Nanak Bagichis will be laid down on specific places across the State in which variety of plants, especially the medicinal plants and herbs, will be planted,” said the state Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot on Tuesday after holding a high level review meeting of the senior officers and DFOs of the department.
The Minister said that the saplings will be planted with a special care so that each plant will have enough space for its growth.
“The plants in Nanak Bagichis will be taken care of three years in row to ensure that the plants survive and converted into big trees,” said the Minister, adding that one Nanak Bagichis is being laid down at Sultanpur Lodhi.
Dharamsot said that in connection with the celebrations of 550th parkash purab, the Forest Department has also decided to plant minimum 550 saplings in each village of the State.
“The work on plantation of 550 saplings in each village is underway. This project is being executed under MGNREGA and the work is completed in 2102 villages whereas the work for digging the pits for plantation is complete in another 8106 villages,” he said.
Dharamsot said that the deadline for completing this task was scheduled as September 30 but taking into consideration the rainy season, he has instructed the officers to complete the task till July 31, 2019.
“In this plantation drive, the primary focus would be on care and upbringing of saplings,” he said.He said that to protect the saplings from the stray animals, tree guards will also be put up around the saplings.At the same time, Dharamsot also appealed the social organizations, NGOs and general public to come forward for this pious work related to the 550th parkash purab of Guru Nanak Dev and contribute in plantation.