To commemorate the 550th Birth Anniversary of the First Sikh Guru Nanak Dev falling in November, Moga MLA Dr Harjot Kamal on Monday, launched a drive to plant 550 saplings of different species in each village of the district. MLA Dr Harjot Kamal launched the first phase of drive in 13 villages from Charik village after planting a sapling in the village.Addressing the panchayats of 13 villages present on the occasion, Dr Harjot Kamal appreciating the initiative of the Punjab government of planting trees and plants in villages, asked the gathering to take responsibility to upkeep them as they play a vital role in keeping the environment healthy. He said that after planting 550 trees in each 13 villages, the drive will be intensified further and all the villages in the district will be covered.MLA Harjot Kamal also appealed residents to voluntarily plant maximum trees and plants at their surroundings to enhance the green cover in the district.
Baljit Singh Kang, Divisional Range Officer (DFO) Moga who was also present on the occasion said that the Forest Department with the help from district administration will plant at least 1.88 lakhs saplings of around 15 different species in total 342 villages in the district.He said that planting trees will be the best homage to Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji, who in his slok “Pavan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat” written in Japji Sahib, termed “air as the Guru, water as the Father and the earth as the great mother”. “Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji has shown closeness with nature and environment and it is our moral responsibility to keep our environment clean, green and pollution free,” he said.Meanwhile, during the plantation drive trees of species like Dek (Melia azedarach), Kachnar (Bauhinia purpurea), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Jacaranda, Sukhchain (Pongamia Pinata), Jamun (Eugenia jambolana), Gulab (Rose), Toot (Morus alba), Kaner (Nerium indicum), Gulmohar (Delonix regia), Bougainvillea, Ailanthus, Peepal (Ficus religiosa) and Amrood (Guava) will be planted.