Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed the forest department to launch a state-wide drive to plant indigenous tree varieties along the highways, a move aimed at environment conservation.
He also asked the urban development department to go in for intensive greening of residential colonies, with amendment in rules, if necessary, to make it mandatory for builders to allocate a part of the property for green plantation in order to obtain the necessary building clearances, an official release said.
The chief minister's directives came on the World Environment Day, which the state government celebrated with a renewed commitment to protect the environment from further deterioration and to conserve the precious resources of Punjab.
In a directive to the forest department, he underlined the need to undertake a mega campaign to restore the state's green belt, especially along the highways, where it had been eroded as a result of four-laning and other development projects.
Amarinder advised the department officials to undertake large-scale plantation of Punjab's native trees such as Kikkar, Shisham, Mango, Ashoka, Jamun, Imli aomg others the highways.
He also asked the urban development department to launch tree plantation drives in colonies to improve the air quality and the aesthetics of these areas.
He also appealed the people to join hands with the state government in its campaign to protect the state's ecology to ensure a better future for their children.
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