Punjab has fixed a target of planting 4.75 crore saplings during current fiscal year 2013-14.The decision was taken by the state Forest and Wildlife Minister Chunni lal Bhagat on Sunday, who stated that under the Greening Punjab Mission, Punjab’s forest cover would be increased from present seven percent to 15 percent.
Forest Minister, presiding over the department’s meeting to review the progress of Greening Punjab Mission, issued strict instructions to achieve the target.
“The National Forest Policy envisages 33 percent of the country’s area under forest or tree cover for safeguarding the environment and ecology. Punjab, being a predominantly agricultural State, has less than seven percent of its area under forest or tree cover, resulting in severe environmental and ecological degradation and also leads to rapidly rising pollution levels in the air, water and soil of the State,” said Bhagat.
Bhagat asked the officers to ensure proper care and nurturing of the saplings being planted by the department under Greening Punjab Mission.He said that only the plantation of saplings would not get any goal if it was not ensured that these saplings grow into trees.
Principal Secretary, Forest, DS Bains apprised the Minister that the department has found 9800 hectare area in 9145 villages and 3021 hectare area in institutions which could be utilized for plantation of saplings to achieve states’ goal of 15 percent forest cover by the year 2020.