With a view to provide a much-needed impetus to the drive for enhancing the green cover across the state, the Punjab Government has announced Rs. one lac cash prize to the leading contributor in this initiative.Disclosing this here today Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Forest and Wildlife Minister, Punjab. said that the forest department had invited applications till June 30, 2016 from those Panchayats, NGOs, individuals, schools, colleges and Universities, who have contributed immensely for the afforestation of the state to award them with the cash prize Rs.1 lac.
The Minister said that the drive to enhance the green cover across the state was initiated by Chief Minister, Punjab Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, on July 1, 2012 and this campaign has recorded a great success. He further said that under this campaign samplings were planted at various places like village common land, premises of government/non-governmental buildings, focal points, educational institutes, government trust, cremation grounds, police posts, police lines, jails, hospitals, districts headquarters and other government offices.
The Forest Minister further said that now the government has decided to reward the work of those institutions and individuals with the cash prize of Rs. one lacs, who have planted trees in abundance during the year 2014-15 and before May 31, 2014. He said that the citation would also be conferred upon the winners. He said that prescribed proforma for the applications can be download from the department website www.pbforests.gov.in or it can be collected from Forest Bhawan, Sector-68, Mohali. The last date to apply is June 30, 2016.