CHANDIGARH: Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharmsot has emphasized on planting as many trees as possible to create a healthy and congenial environment. He said that if every person of the world planted a tree and took care of it then major environmental damages could be avoided. He said that today every country of the world is facing environmental problems and was taking necessary steps to address them.
Urging the social organizations of Punjab to work continuously for planting as many plants as possible, Dharmsot said that the state government has planted more than 1.23 Crore saplings across the state under the 'Ghar-Ghar Haryali Scheme' during the last four years. Similarly about 76 lakh saplings related to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji and about 66 lakh saplings related to the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji have been planted across the state. He urged to Identify suitable places for more plantation and asked to plant as many saplings as possible.
Mr. Dharmsot today unveiled a special banner here on the occasion of International My Tree Day, celebrated on the last Sunday of July every year by the NGO Go Green International that was initiated from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. On this occasion, Mr. Dharmsot appealed to the people of the state to plant a tree at their level and take care of it. He said that everyone around the world should associate and make special bondage with trees emotionally.
The Forest Minister lauded the efforts of the founder of the NGO Mr. Ashwani Joshi and his colleagues to celebrate the planting of trees on a special day every year which they have been doing for the last 11 years.
The Forest Minister has appealed to the people to observe the International Tree Day on the last Sunday of July in government institutions and plant trees at suitable places. He said that the saplings could be obtained free of cost from the nearby government nurseries.