Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh today launched a special plantation drive at Sunjwan area falling under State Forest Corporation Depot in Jammu region.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the people must plant trees and contribute back to the environment for the benevolence of the State's ecological affairs. He said the mega environmental and plantation drives have been launched to achieve better results in shaping up the degraded environment. The Minister said that the Government is aiming to provide green cover to the schools, Colleges and other educational institutes. He said that the Department would be assessing the green and cleanliness of the educational institutes. The Minister said that the Government is also aiming to popularize plantation with sustained drives in various regions of the State. He said that the said the ongoing season is best time for plantation and the Forest Department has taken it in a mission mode to cover maximum area under plantation.
Singh 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 Schools and other educational institutes.Interacting with people, Singh said that Forest Department has initiated massive plantation drive across the State. He said that the ongoing season is best time for plantation and Forest Department has taken it on mission mode to cover maximum suitable areas under plantation. He said thousands of plant of fruit and ornamental and other species are being planted in identified forest locations keeping in mind local weather conditions.While seeking the cooperation of the people, Singh asked all stakeholders to be part of plantation drive so that ecology can be maintained properly. He said that Government is contemplating to update the forest policy with the aim to increase the forest wealth of the State.The Minister was accompanied by all the heads and other senior officials of the Forest and its allied wings.