Chandigarh, July 12

Administrator of UT VP Singh Badnore today launched Van Mahotsav-2021 by planting a ‘jamun’ sapling in reserve forest area of Sector 26 in the presence of senior officers of the Administration, Forest Department employees and NCC cadets.

The chief guest flagged off vehicles designed for the distribution of free saplings by the Forest Department titled “Forest Department at your doorstep”.

Dharam Pal, UT Adviser; Arun Kumar Gupta, Home Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary (Forests); Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests; and Dr Abdul Qayum, Deputy Conservator of Forests, and other officials also planted saplings to commemorate Van Mahotsav-2021.

Badnore appreciated the efforts of the department for maintaining the greenery and urged the people to take part in Van Mahotsava-2021 with full enthusiasm following all Covid-safety protocols. He further asked the department to enrich the existing forest area with more native species.

Debendra Dalai said as per plan, a total of 1,75,000 saplings would be planted in a phased manner on government and available private land and 80,000 saplings would be distributed free of cost to residents by the Forest Department. — TNS

Free Plants on doorstep till July 29

The saplings would be distributed till July 29 from 9 am to 6 pm.

One can receive up to five plants of his/her choice of species without any charges from specially designed vehicles. The citizens can also contact the vehicles at 97801-80238, 79862-64894 & 93571-48202.