Green Mission PLANTATION DRIVE

• Under the Green Mission, the state government has set a target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years
• On an average, five crore saplings would be planted per year at a cost of Rs 180 crore
• The drive is aimed at enhancing the forest cover in the state from the present 7 per cent to 15 per cent
• Fazilka chosen as the starting point as the district has a mere 1 per cent forest cover against the recommended 33 per cent
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  The Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute (FRI) will be greening Punjab in the next eight years. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab, and the FRI in the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in here today.
  Green Punjab Mission, a project worth Rs 1,900 crore, aims at increasing Punjab's forest cover from the existing 7 per cent to 15 per cent. While Principal Chief Conservator of Forests HS Gujral signed the MoU on behalf of Punjab, Dr PP Bhojvaid, Director, FRI, signed it on behalf of the institute.
  Badal said it was his dream to increase the green cover of the state. "A massive afforestation programme under the mission will be launched with the involvement of the forest department and farmers. The FRI will provide technical support to ensure the success of the programme," he said.
  Plantation of industrial timber and ornamental tree varieties would be carried out under this programme. He said to ensure the proper price for timber grown by the farmers, the timber market would be strengthened and upgraded throughout the state.
  The Chief Minister also handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh to the Director, FRI.
  Dr PP Bhojvaid said the FRI had started the process of supplying quality seeds and plants to the Punjab Forest Department and efforts were on to control the eucalyptus gall vasps disease. He said a district-wise training programme for the frontline staff and forest officers would be started soon.
  Gujral highlighted different aspects of the project and expected the Punjab Forest Department would achieve the objective of the mission with the cooperation of the FRI.
  Dr VK Bahuguna, Director-General, Indian Council of Forest Research and Education, said the mutual cooperation between the Punjab Forest Department and the FRI should also be followed by other states.
  "Punjab has set an example in the agriculture sector and is all ready to set another example in the forestry sector", he added.