Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave in principle approval to establish a Forest Research Institute in the state in order to boost agro-forestry besides, undertaking a massive plantation drive effectively across the state to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free.
Decision to this effect was taken by Badal during a meeting with the Director, Forest Research Institute (FRI) Dehradun Dr. P.P. Bhoj Vaid held here today at Chief Minister’s residence.Taking part in the deliberations Badal asked the FRI Director to prepare a comprehensive plan of this proposed institution at the earliest. He further assigned the job of monitoring and evaluation of the work being carried out by the Punjab Forest Department under all schemes including Greening Punjab Mission. On the occasion Dr. Vaid emphasised the need to produce good quality genetic seeds of different verities for the production of high quality plants especially clonal sapling in the state and assured to provide full technical support to the Forest department in this regard besides, arranging adequate seeds through other institutions in the country. He also presented a detailed concept and scope of agro-forestry in the state, besides the proposed plantation drive ‘Greening Punjab Campaign’. reciating the concern expressed by the Director FRI on the issue, Badal said that their government had already initiated numerous steps to increase the forest area in the state. He further said that with the concerted efforts of the forest department Punjab had achieved India’s first-state status by increasing 100 square kilometer of new forest area in its green cover during year 2010-11. He said that keeping in view the developments and needs for the next 20 years the department had identified vacant and shrub covered land in different institutions even across the national and state highways for aforestation and a massive plantation drive would be launched at Fazilka on July 1, 2012. Badal asked FRI Dehradun to adopt practical approach in developing clonal nurseries, presently there were 210 general and about seven clonal nurseries in the state. It was observed that the plants produced in the clonal nurseries have a better survival rate than the normal plants and Government was planning to double these nurseries soon, added Badal.The Chief Minister said that government would also chalk out a comprehensive plan in accordance with the FRI to further boost agro-forestry for providing an additional economic support for the farmers of the state.Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Financial Commissioner Forest DS Bains, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr, Gaggandip Singh Brar, Principal Chief Conservator Mr HS Gujral and Vice Chancellor PAU Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon were also present in the meeting.