District set for massive tree plantation drive

As part of the Punjab Government’s initiative to increase green cover, the District Administration, in collaboration with the Forest Department, is launching a large-scale plantation drive this month.

Chairing a review meeting at Bachat Bhawan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Amarjit Bains urged officials from various departments to actively participate. He emphasised that departments should take a proactive role in planting maximum saplings and share lists of sapling varieties with his office and the Forest Department.

IAS (Under Training) Dr Pragati Rani also interacted with officials and the Nodal Department. She stressed the need to expand green areas, stating, “All of us must make sincere efforts.”

The ADC informed that 14 nurseries under the Forest Department would supply fruit-bearing, shade-giving, ornamental and other varieties of saplings. These will be planted on panchayat lands, around village ponds, roadsides, educational institutions, healthcare centres and tubewells by the Agriculture Department, along with vacant lands held by other departments. He asked each department to appoint a nodal officer to oversee plantation and upkeep. He added, “Each department must take a keen interest in achieving the target.”

Highlighting the importance of trees in protecting the environment, improving air quality, and conserving water and soil, he said the youth should act as ambassadors of environmental conservation to help build a “Green, Clean and Pollution-Free Ludhiana.”

The ADC also shared that those interested in planting saplings can get them from various nurseries across the district. For Doraha and Khanna nurseries under Doraha Range, Abhishek Sharma can be contacted at 81980-81888. For Dhamot Nursery, Manpreet Singh is available at 87289-00384, while for Aligarh Nursery in Jagraon Range, Neeraj Kumar can be contacted at 98555-08088. For Akhara Nursery, contact Kulwinder Kumar at 87280-00837; for Sidhwan Bet Nursery, Lovepreet Kaur at 70319-99992; and for Sudhar Nursery, Avtar Singh at 98141-00098.

Amarjit Bains described environmental cleanliness and pollution control as commendable goals that should be replicated across districts. He said, “Plants are a major source of free oxygen and vital for protecting the environment. With pollution rising daily, we must plant more trees to improve our surroundings.”

Ludhiana