Chandigarh, Jul 21 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state has set a target of planting 1.40 crore saplings during this year’s Van Mahotsav campaign, while stressing that ensuring the survival of planted trees is as important as plantation itself.
Chairing a review meeting on preparations for Van Mahotsav here, Saini said the campaign should become a people’s movement through active participation of citizens, social and religious organisations, and NGOs to strengthen environmental conservation and increase the state’s green cover.
Officials informed the meeting that the Forest Department will plant 1.10 crore saplings at around 3,400 locations, while other government departments will plant 30 lakh saplings at nearly 900 locations.
The plantation drive will be conducted in four phases on July 30, August 7, August 14 and August 21, with responsibilities assigned to different departments for each phase.
The chief minister directed the Forest Department to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0” campaign and reviewed the progress of the state’s Oxy-Zone project.
He instructed Urban Local Bodies to undertake large-scale plantation drives in cities and ensure saplings are protected with tree guards.
He also called for planting suitable shade-giving tree species of controlled height along roads, besides greening major intersections and public spaces to improve urban aesthetics.
Saini further directed officials to beautify village entry points through plantation and organise a special plantation drive during the proposed marathon in Yamunanagar.
Officials informed the meeting that all saplings planted under this year’s campaign would be geo-tagged to facilitate regular monitoring and maintenance.
The chief minister also asked Urban Local Bodies to involve Ward Committees in maintaining saplings and directed the Education Department to associate schools, students, School Management Committees and parents with the campaign to spread awareness about environmental conservation.
He said ministers, MLAs and other public representatives would participate in plantation drives to encourage greater public involvement and instructed every department to ensure proper care of planted saplings for their long-term survival and environmental benefits. PTI VSD AMJ AMJ
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