CHANDIGARH, Aug 6: Trees not only control ubiquitous pollution but also help check encroachments by covering vacant land. Explaining the importance of trees in preserving the flora and fauna, Khazan Singh, Conservator of Forests in the Union Ministry of Environment, asked the UT Administration to plant more trees in the City.He was presiding over the function to mark the inauguration of Swarn Jayanti Kunj programme at Maloya village here today. Under this scheme 50 plants will be planted in each village and town of the country during the golden jubilee year of India's independence.
The inauguration was done by City Mayor Gian Chand Gupta by planting a sapling in the village.
Stressing the need to control pollution which has become a great threat to humanity, Gupta blamed it all on the advancement in science and technology and increase in vehicular traffic. He also asked the villagers to ensure that the planted trees survived.
UT's chief conservator of forests H.S. Sohal announced that the plants would be provided free by his department. He revealed that last year the survival rate of trees in UT was 83 per cent which was more than that of Punjab and Haryana.
Others present on the occasion included UT chief engineer R.K. Jain, SSP (headquarters) N.S. Randhawa and village sarpanch Mam Chand.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
