Tree ATM 4.0 to give boost to plantation drive in city
The district administration and Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with City Needs and Forest Department, launched Tree ATM 4.0 and Green Guardian Awards 2025 at Pahwa Auditorium, Guru Nanak Bhawan, on Saturday.
The Tree ATM 4.0 (Mobile plantation service) was flagged off by Mayor Inderjit Kaur, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain and Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal. MC Assistant Commissioner Jasdev Singh Sekhon was also present along with other officials on the occasion. Through Tree ATM, citizens can book plantation services at their premises giving a missed call on the mobile number 8955556645. After site assessment, trained volunteers from Marshall Aid visit the site with tools and native saplings to execute professional plantation, followed by geo-tagging and monitoring.
A training workshop titled “Plantation – The Right Way” was also held during the launch of the Tree ATM with insights from Dr Balwinder Singh Lakhewali, senior environmentalist, and Dr Brij Mohan Bhardwaj, horticulturist and Secretary, Soch. The topics included were ‘Importance of native species’; ‘Proper site preparation’; ‘Post-plantation care techniques’ and ‘scientific methods to improve plant survival’.
Also, the Green Guardian Awards 2025 were presented to individuals and institutions that showed exemplary commitment in nurturing saplings planted under last year’s Tree ATM 3.0. They received certificates and recognition for achieving over 60 per cent survival rate. The Mayor stated that tree plantation is not just an environmental action, it’s a social responsibility. “I am proud that Ludhiana is leading with such a thoughtful and sustainable model like Tree ATM. This initiative reflects the spirit of our citizens who are ready not only to plant trees, but also take care of them. I urge all institutions, residents and youth to come forward and be the caretakers of this green legacy,” added the Mayor.
Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain shared that the Tree ATM is a shining example of how technology, community involvement and structured monitoring can come together for impactful governance. With geo-tagging, survival audits and community accountability, one can ensure that every tree that is planted counts. This model is scalable, replicable and a proud initiative of the Ludhiana district administration.
MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal added that the real success of any plantation drive lies not in the numbers planted, but in the percentage that survive and grow. Tree ATM 4.0 is setting a new standard for urban afforestation. “We remain committed to providing logistical and on-ground support to make Ludhiana greener and cleaner,” he said.
MC Assistant Commissioner Jasdev Sekhon informed that bookings are open and citizens can book plantation services at their premises by giving a missed call on 8955556645 or online at https://tinyurl.com/TreeATM4 and the service remains completely free, including saplings, tools and labour. “However, the selection will be stringent to ensure commitment and site readiness,” he added.
Founder of City Needs, Maneet Dewan shared that out of the 22,000 saplings planted last year, 54 per cent survived, with protected sites recording up to 80 per cent success rate. “This year, we are only selecting fenced and monitored sites, with an aim to achieve at least 70 per cent survival rate,” he added.
Ludhiana