Punjab government is committed towards increasing the green cover in state and has launched massive plantation drive. Under this initiative Barnala targets at planting 6 lakh saplings this year thereby leading the green movement.Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Sports and Youth Services, Higher Education, said while addressing gathering at the local Government Senior Secondary School for Girls here today.
Making significant contribution by planting saplings at the school, the minister spearheaded a string of functions held in all the three vidhan sabha constituencies today marking the onset of plantation drive in district Barnala. Plantation was started today in all three vidhan sabha constituencies including Barnala, Mehal Kalan and Bhadaur.
The minister said that Punjab government has set a target of planting 50000 saplings and 115 trivenis in each of the assembly constituency. However, Barnala has gone beyond the call and targeted at planting 6 lakh saplings in the district. 2.5 lakh saplings have already been planted with active participation of education department. All 287 government schools are being used form plantation.
"Barnala is focussing on plantation in fenced area so that the rate of survival of saplings is more. We this approach, we aim at securing survival rate of plants upto 80 percent," he said. The minister added that 100 acres of land has been identified for developing mini forests including Handiaya, Tajoke, Jangiana, Bihla, Theekriwal, Mehal Kalan and Manal, while the target is of developing such forests in 300 acres of area of the district.
Peeved at the Barnala being the front runner in depletion of underground water table during the recent years, the minister said that besides ensuring rain water harvesting and roof top harvesting structures in schools, work was also being done to develop wetland. 100 acres of land has been identified at village Badbar for developing a wetland, which has more diverse flora and fauna than usual forests.
Calling upon the school students to spearhead this movement as young brigade, he asked to plant and tend at least one plant yearly. He also dissuaded the young generation from using plastic bags and adopting environmental friendly way of life.Deputy Commissioner Dr Harish Nayar, ADC Mr Paramvir Singh, SDM Mr Gopal Singh, DEO Mr Sarabjit Singh Toor, Deputy DEO Harkanwaljit Kaur and others were present.
Each class to be given particular kind of sapling:
Elaborating on the methodology of plantation being put to use in schools, the Minister said that classes fourth, fifth and seventh class students are being given guava saplings, class sixth students are being given neem or brahma dek and class eighth students are being given jamun saplings. Girl students of classes ninth to +2 are being given goose berry (amla) and same classes' boy students will be given saplings that grow into thick canopy trees.
Meritorious students honored:
Minister Mr Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer honored the meritorious students at event. Manpreet Singh students of Government Middle School Gumti was honored for securing cent per cent marks in class 8th board exams and Richika from Government School Jumla Malkan was honored for securing 9th place in state in eighth board exam.
From class tenth, Gursewak Singh from Government School Chhapa was honored for securing 7th place in state, Niyamat from Govenrment School Barnala was honored for securing 10th rank in state and Navjot Kaur was honored for securing 14th place in state. Similarly, Mandeep Kaur was honored for securing 8th rank in state in classe +2.