CM to initiate 'Project Green'

In order to make it successful, he has given a clarion to all the government, social, non-government and individuals to come forward and protect the environment by planting trees across the State to ensure pollution free environment.

Motive behind the idea
A meeting was held between the senior functionaries of various departments of the State, where Badal has put forward an idea to conduct a campaign that will motivate the youngsters to plant more trees and make environment healthy.

He said that every student in the State must plant atleast two trees and nurture them properly, to fight against the issue of global warming. He explained that a tree has the capacity to produce 4.8 tonne of oxygen and could consume 6.5 tonne of carbon dioxide and hence, balancing the flow in the environment.

The CM has asked Chief Secretary to chalk out a plan and make it mandatory for all the newly developed residential areas to plant trees.

Further directions given by CM
During the meeting, Badal further directed PUDA to hire the services of the reputed companies for landscaping and plantation in the state in a planed manner.

He said that emphasis should be laid to grow big trees in and around the big cities, for which the state government will be initiating a 'Project Green' in five corporation cities like Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Mohali.

Also, the Rural Development and Panchayat Department have received orders from CM to identify the maximum rural vacant land, where plantation could be done on a mass scale.

This time Punjab has targeted to plant 1.3 crore plants in the coming year, out of which 41.15 lakh plants have been already planted.

Besides, the Badal asked the industry department to ensure proper plantation inside and around the premises of industrial units, which has now become compulsory as per the guidelines laid down by the Punjab state pollution control board.