Under the 'Green Punjab Mission', Punjab Government has decided to distribute two crore saplings during 2016-17, out of which 60 lakh saplings would be provided 'free of cost' to social, religious, educational institutions and paramilitary forces with an aim to give a big push to increase the forest cover across the State.
"Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal launched the Green Punjab Mission in 2012 to ensure larger participation of all sections of society besides providing 60 lakh saplings free of cost annually, which resulted in increase of eight square kms forest cover as per the latest report of Forest Survey of India," said State Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Chunni lal Bhagat, while addressing the State-level function on 67th Van Mahotsav.
He said that to engage the farming community in saving environment through agro-forestry, the Punjab Government has established Forest Research Institute at ludhiana with Rs 23.69 crore which will work in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun to develop new varieties of saplings.
"With the Centre's assistance, saplings would also be planted in 3,000 acres in Kandi areas of Punjab," he said.