Massive plantation undertaken in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, July 27: To cover the ''City Beautiful'' with greenery and maintain its environment, a massive plantation drive has been undertaken by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

The corporation has planned to plant 5570 trees, 5119 shrubs and 535 climbers along roads, parks, green belts, rehabilitation colonies at City Center Sector 17, Manimajra Complex and Dadumajra dumping grounds during the rainy season.

As many as 539 trees, 535 shrubs and 100 climbers have been planted so far by the Horticulture Division and the remaining will be planted by the end of September next.

Ornamental trees and flowering plants will be planted around the dumping ground near Dadu Majra. Care has been taken to keep the balance of greening between southern and nothern sectors.

Trees like schleichera trijuga (kusum), Alstonia scholaris (Chhatun), Terminalia arjuna (Arjan), Cassia Fistula (Amaltas), Callistemon lanceolatus (Bottle Brush), Terminalia balerica (Bahera) will be planted along roadsides.

While the City Center, Sector 17, has already been covered with shade giving trees, flowering trees like Cassia fistula, Callistemon laceolatus, Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor), Jakaranta Bauhenia (kachnar) etc. are being planted to give colorful touch to the sectors.

To make parks, gardens and green belts environment friendly, flowering shrubs and ornamental trees will be planted. For roadside plantations, the emphasis was on pollution abating and shade giving trees like ''Neem'', ''Arjun'', ''Bahera'' which act as effective pollution scavengers.

Post-plantation care will be ensured by the concerned field staff for the better survival of saplings.

The Municipal Corporation develops one green belt in the city every year. This year green belts in Sectors 39, 41, 24 and 29 are proposed to be developed.

UNI