Claiming that it had already planted one million trees in the city last year, UT administration on Thursday launched yet another plantation drive to add 1.58 lakh more saplings to this figure.
The much-hyped Green Chandigarh campaign under the Partnership Initiative Programme was inaugurated by UT administrator Gen (Retd) SF Rodrigues in presence of eminent environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna, who suggested that UT should discontinue plantation of eucalyptus trees.
Revealing the target to plant 1.58 lakh trees during the monsoon with help of various social groups, voluntary organizations, schools, colleges and other institutions, Gen Rodrigues urged individuals who were willing to be part of this initiative to approach home secretary Ram Niwas.
He further informed that a plan was afoot to set up theme gardens in southern sectors of the city, for which proposals were being prepared and assistance sought from the tourism ministry.
Speaking on the occasion, Bahuguna expressing his support for growing fruit and flower trees, revealed that one eucalyptus tree is no less than a guzzler of water as it consumes around 30 litres of water daily.
Exhorting the need to intensify plantation programme, Bahuguna drew attention to the fact that due to fast pace of urbanization, not only existing tree cover was to be protected but also higher number of green belts and gardens that act as oxygen chambers need to be developed.
The programme was followed by tree plantation by the Residents’ Welfare Association, Sector 21. Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh (FOSWAC) president PC Sanghi stated that the programme would take all sectors within its ambit in a phase-wise manner. Saplings were also planted in a Sector 36-based school, where its fraternity participated.
In another move, the Industries Association led the green drive in Industrial Area, Phase-I. It also provided tree guards for these plants and offered to plant saplings in front of their factories in collaboration with the administration and maintain them. A similar endeavour was organized in Sector 26-based Bapu Dham School in collaboration with volunteer organization Yuvasatta. The students put up an exhibition on plantation, slogan writing and painting competition on the occasion. Interacting with the students, Bahuguna advised them to take a pledge to plant at least one tree and to maintain it.
Posted By Staff Reporter
in Punjab News
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