Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh on Sunday suspended three officials over negligence of work during his surprise visit to Kootah area of Hiranagar Social Forestry range alongside National Highway.The Minister, while inspecting the plantation sites across the areas, expressed displeasure over the work carried out by the social Forestry range of Hiranagar range. He, on the spot, suspended the Range Officer, Block Officer and Forest Guard over negligence of their professional work.“I won’t tolerate any negligence in my department,” Singh warned the officials saying that dereliction of official duties on part of some employees mars the efforts of hundreds of other devoted workers,” he added.The Minister said that developing green corridor along National Highway through plantation and allied activity is priority of the department and no laxity would be tolerated in this regard. He asked the concerned officers to intensify the plantation drive during the rainy season while stressing on planting the saplings of ornamental and fruit plants that can sustain the local weather conditions along the Highway.
The Minister urged for larger participation of local populace in the plantation drives to ensure its success. He also stressed the need for spreading greater awareness about the importance of plantation for maintaining ecological balance. He called upon the NGOs, educational institutions, social and religious organizations to play their role in this noble cause and save the earth from further damage.“The objective of this endeavor is to develop a framework for the plantation of trees along highways, reducing the impact of air pollution and dust, providing shade on glaring hot roads during summer, reducing the impact of noise pollution and soil erosion, preventing the glare from the headlights of incoming vehicles, and curbing carbon emission,” Singh said. He said under the ‘Green Highway’ project, the first three rows will have ornamental plants along the highway whereas the back rows will have commercial species of plants. He said that in order to make the National Highway eco-friendly and green, the work is under progress and fencing of enclosures is also being undertaken; the entire plantation will be done by Social Forestry wing of Forest department.