The tree plantation drive was inaugurated by UT Administrator General S F Rodrigues (Retd). Environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna and UT Home Secretary Ram Niwas were also present on the occasion. The drive started from Sector 21 where a green belt is going to be developed. Officials of the Municipal Corporation including Municipal Commissioner Dr Roshan Sunkaria were there. Saplings of Neem, Jamun, Harar, Bahera and Amla were planted here.

Addressing the gathering General Rodrigues said there is a target of planting 1.58 lakh trees in the city during the rainy season. He said that there is a plan to set up theme gardens in the southern sectors of Chandigarh for which proposals are being prepared and assistance is being sought from the tourism industry.

Sunder Lal Bahuguna, meanwhile said that the plantation of eucalyptus trees should be stopped as one tree consumes 30 liters of water everyday. He informed that more and more trees should be planted in the city so that they can act as oxygen chambers to cope with fast-paced urbanisation.

The plantation drive in Sector 21 was followed by another in a school in Sector 36 and later on in Industrial Area Phase I. A drive was organised in Government High School, Sector 26 in collaboration with NGO Yuvsatta. The students put up an exhibition on plantation and a painting competition was also held.

Home Secretary Ram Niwas, speaking on the occasion said a lot was being done under the Partnership Initiative Programme in the field of garbage control, drug de-addiction, female foeticide, etc.

He said that he expected the NGOs would come forward for the cause and the residents would also actively take part in making their city more beautiful and eco friendly.

Under the Partnership Initiative Progamme about 76 NGOs have registered their participation to take up afforestation drives at various locations in the city and villages.