Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, along with Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Monday planted saplings at village Kothe Khushhalpur on Batala-Dera Baba Nanak Road, ahead of the ceremony to lay the foundation laying of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Corridor, as part of the state’s government’s programme to commemorate the legacy of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.Apprising the Vice President about the unique initiative to bring awareness amongst people about the significance of clean, green and pollution free environment, the Chief Minister said that the state Government had launched an ambitious programme to plant 550 saplings in every village to commemorate the year-long celebrations of 550th Parkash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore also planted a sapling to mark the occasion.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion were Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Forests Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Education Minister OP Soni, Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Gurdaspur MP and PPCC Chief Sunil Jakhar and Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Raveen Thukral. Notably, to disseminate the first Guru’s message on the significance of nature and human life far and wide, the Punjab Government has initiated plantation of indigenous varieties of trees at appropriate places in consultation with Gram Panchayats by November 2019. The estimated cost of this project is Rs. 10.50 crore, which shall be met through Greening Punjab Mission, with maintenance to be done through MGNREGS. The Forests Department has been entrusted with the gigantic task of plantation in every village across the state. The Chief Minister has already appealed to one and all to plant at least one fruit tree in their homes to make this ongoing plantation drive a grand success.