Forest Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Friday directed the officials to send a proposal of converting Ropar-Phagwara four-lane highway into a green corridor in Punjab.During inspection of survival and growth rate of 29856 saplings planted on both sides of 80-km stretch of Ropar-Phagwara four-lane highway, the Forest Minister said that the department would carry out more plantation, beautification, laying grass, landscaping along national highway.
Lal Chand Kataruchak also asked the forest officials to make a comprehensive policy to plant ornamental trees, Sheesham on the both sides of the stretch to give it an aesthetic look.He said that the proposal must be submitted within the next fortnight so that work can be started as soon as possible. The Minister said that this project would help to transform the highway areas into lush green forests.Meanwhile, he expressed satisfaction over the growth of 29856 saplings including 17877 in 2020-21 and 11979 in 2021-22 which is more than 90-percent.Prominent among present on the occasion included Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Punjab Parveen Kumar, DFO Satinder Singh and others.