Punjab to launch a drive for afforestation, says Minister

Chandigarh, Apr 12 (UNI) The Punjab Government will soon launch a massive drive to encourage people to undertake tree plantation in the state.

This was informed here by Forest Minister Tikshan Sood while presiding over a review meeting of the officers of Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department and Punjab State Forest Development Corporation Ltd. here last evening.

He said the Government would implement a new long-term State Forestry Action Programme to increase forest covered area in the next few years. He said that afforestation by farming community would help tackle the problem of water logging particularly in the Malwa region of the state.

Regarding the revival of Agro-Forestry, the Minister emphasized the immediate need to chalk out a master plan to promote wood based industries in the state that would help the farmers producing wood to get the remunerative prices of their product.

He reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to work for the welfare of the people in general and farmers in particular by providing fair and transparent governance and impementing various welfare programmes.

UNI