City’s green cover — 54 sq km

This year,for the upcoming World Environment Day on June 5,the UT Administration has raised the bar for planting more trees. As against around 1.9 lakh plantations last year,the target is 2.5 lakh this year.

While the forest department will plant one lakh trees,the Municipal Corporation and the UT horticulture department will plant the rest.

Also,in a bid to increase the green cover further,saplings will be planted along the city’s entry points. For this,the UT Administration is going to pump in around Rs 20 lakh. Extensive plantation will be conducted between June and August,coinciding with monsoons.

Expert Dr Satish Narula,who had earlier offered guidance to the UT Administration on theme gardens,has been roped in for the project.

“I will guide them on what species to plant,what is the ideal distance between two saplings,etc. At present,we are conducting a survey on what kind of saplings could be planted in which area,depending on parametres like space and availability of water. We have already done mapping of the area,” he said.

The city’s Green Action Plan for this year,which will be unveiled on June 5 at a function in Sarangpur’s Botanical Garden,for the first time will offer home gardening tips. To make the residents aware of the need for such a project,the Green Action Plan report will be made available on the UT Administration website. According to sources,this is being done to increase the sphere of the Green Action Plan and make it a handy book for the residents.

Apart from home gardening tips,it will also have details of medicinal plants and how locals can grow these and other herbs in their own gardens. Moreover,the special task force of the forest department will conduct monthly drives to check on the number of saplings planted by each UT department.

Speaking about the concretisation of the city,Professor R K Kohli,Botany Department head at the Panjab University,said: “The way paver blocks are being installed across the city,it is not only adversely affecting the greenery but also lowering the soil’s potential. If they have to use paver blocks,they should take a cue from Gujarat,where all paver blocks are hollow from inside,leaving space for water to percolate.”