Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday chaired a review meeting of the Forest Department in Chandigarh and directed officials to increase the green cover in the state, strengthen forest conservation and connect the plantation drive with public participation. Detailed preparations for the upcoming Van Mahotsav were also reviewed during the meeting.
The Chief Minister said that plantation should not remain limited to numbers alone; protection and regular maintenance of every planted sapling must also be ensured.The Chief Minister directed officials to identify suitable locations for plantation in panchayats, urban local bodies, municipal corporations, municipal councils and other government premises and undertake plantation on a large scale.
He said that all planted saplings and trees should be geo-tagged and a complete record maintained, along with regular monitoring. Responsibility for the protection and maintenance of plantations should also be assigned at government offices and institutions where plantation is undertaken.
*Directives to Strengthen Forest Protection, Water Conservation and Technology-Based Monitoring*
The Chief Minister directed that illegal felling be completely curbed and said that trees of important species such as Khair, Sal and Shisham should be geo-fenced and numbered, with a digital record maintained. Check posts around forests should be made more effective and forest guards should regularly inspect forests and plantations.
He also directed that the recruitment process for vacant Forest Guard posts be completed at the earliest and that 20 per cent of the posts be filled by Agniveers as per the prescribed provisions.Expressing concern over incidents of forest fires, the Chief Minister said that an effective system should be put in place to prevent forest fires and strict action under the law should be ensured against those who deliberately set fire to forests.
Describing water conservation as an important foundation of forest conservation, he directed officials to increase the capacity of dams, strengthen water harvesting and pay special attention to the revival and restoration of water harvesting structures. He also directed that treated water be used for the protection of plants wherever possible.
The Chief Minister said that the upcoming Van Mahotsav should be transformed into a campaign of extensive public participation. For this, all departments, educational institutions, hospitals, industrial units, panchayats, as well as social and voluntary organisations should be associated with the campaign.
Maximum use of the plantation portal and modern technology should be made to ensure effective monitoring of plantation and plant protection, so that complete records of planted saplings are available and their regular maintenance is ensured.The Chief Minister said that environmental protection is not only the responsibility of the government but also a collective responsibility of society.
He directed officials to encourage individuals and institutions undertaking plantation and provide them with the necessary support. He expressed confidence that through public participation, modern technology and effective monitoring, the goal of increasing Haryana's green cover would gain further momentum.
Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forest and Wildlife Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Chief Minister's Advisor for Foreign Cooperation Department Sh. Pawan Choudhary, OSD to the Chief Minister Sh. B.B. Bharti, Sh. Virender Singh Badhkhalsa, along with senior officers of the Forest Department, were present at the meeting.