Punjab to celebrate 'Van Mahotsava' tomorrow

Chandigarh, July 6 (UNI) The Punjab Government would celebrate 58th 'Van Mahotsava' tomorrow to bring awareness amongst the masses for the plantation of trees.

Forest and Wild life Preservation Minister Tikshan Sood said here today that Punjab had taken lead to promote financially viable and self-sustaining eco-tourism in the state.

He also informed that the state government would ensure the maximum involvement of farmers in this scheme. He further said that to provide remunerative price of woods produce by the farmers, state government would revive wood-based industry in a big way. Mr Sood reiterated his firm commitment to make Punjab an environment friendly state by constant increase of forest cover in the state with in next five years.

The state had planned to plant 98 lakh saplings this year under various schemes, said the Minister.

Talking about the concerted efforts of the state government, he said that SAD-BJP government, for the first time in country, had declared 1568 acres of Panchayat land in villages Keshopur (Gurdaspur), Lalwan (Hoshiarpur) as two community reserves.

In addition to this, the state government for protecting the interest of farming community would initiate a project of fencing of Wild life Sanctuaries to protect agricultural crops from damage by wild animals and 12 Kms boundary of Wild life Sanctuaries would be fenced this year costing Rs 1 crore, he added.

Further informed that the State Government was encouraging non-government organisation (NGOs) by motivating and involving them in the afforestation works in the state. Four projects were being implemented by the NGOs with the Central funding while nine more such projects were in the pipeline and had been sent to Central government for approval.

UNI