More
than 25,000 saplings planted along roadside on NH
KATHUA,
JANUARY 06: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh
today inaugurated mega plantation drive in which more than 25,000 saplings were
planted on 5 km long stretch of National Highway at Barnoti here.
The
mega plantation drive was a joint initiative of State Forest Research Institute
(SFRI) and Social Forestry Department in which trees including Peepal, Bourd,
Guava, Saru, Neem, Safaida, Bruganvillea, Kitamb and other medicinal plants
were planted on the roadside strips and open spaces.
SFRI
also provided 97,000 different plants to Social Forestry Department for
plantation in 48 left out road strips in Kathua town near Barnoti.
Principal
Chief Conservator of Forests, Ravi Kesar, Deputy Commissioner Rohit Khajuria,
Chief Wildlife Warden Manoj Panth, Chairman State Pollution Control Board B
Sidhartha, Director Social Forestry Ashwani Kumar Gupta, Director SFC Suresh
Gupta, Director FPF Asif Mehmood Sagar, Chief Conservator of Forests Farooq
Gillini, Director SFRI B M Sharma, Director Soil Water and Conservation Javed
Iqbal Punju, Director Environment and Remote Sensing O P Sharma, Regional
Director Social Forestry Roop Avtar Kour, Regional Director Wild Life Dr V.S
Sinthil Kumar besides other senior officers of Forest and its allied wings
participated in the Mega Plantation Drive at Barnoti.
While
addressing the gathering, Choudhary Lal Singh said the initiative has been
taken to cover every open space with greenery. SFRI and Social Forestry Wings
have been directed to develop nurseries with different plants to beautify every
area with green face, he added.
He
appealed the people to hold plantation drives during the monsoon season and
advised them to plant trees in and around their localities as they adapt
readily to local climate, integrate into the eco-system and prove helpful in
supporting birds, insect and animals.
The
Minister directed the officers of SFRI and Social Forestry to deploy dedicated
staff in their jurisdictions for ensuring timely watering of plants. He also
asked the State Pollution Control Board not to allow industrialists to release
pollution through their industries in Samba and Kathua. He asked the
industrialists to follow the norms of the SPCB for running their units and
providing pollution free environ to the people.
He
stressed on the role of trees in maintaining balance in nature and emphasized
that the people should come forward and plant trees for protecting green wealth
for survival of mankind.
The
Minister informed that during last monsoon, the Forest department had planted
about two crore plants across the state in forests and road strips. The main
focus of the department would be on the plantation of fruit, ornamental and medicinal
plants as these trees remain green throughout the year adding to the beauty of
the State, he stressed.
Choudhary
Lal Singh said that the Forest Department has been tasked with a very important
role to conserve the natural resources which directly impact the life of human
beings and other living creatures. He said dedicated efforts are required to
meet this noble cause.
Later,
on the way, Choudhary Lal Singh found some trolleys and tractors plying without
following the guidelines of SPCB. He directed SPCB to cancel the licenses of
the drivers who are found plying the vehicles without plastic sheet (Tripal) and
creating problems for the commuters.
