Amritsar DC planting trees on Sikh Environment Day
District Administration in a joint drive with Military Authorities, Forest Deptt., Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) and NGOs will initiate a massive plantation drive in the military areas of the city, informed Mr. K.S.Pannu Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar after formally commencing the drive at Gobindgarh Fort, here today.
The District Administration by choosing the auspicious day of Gurta Gadhi Divas (Enthronement Day) of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji for the drive joins Sikh community world wide which is celebrating March 14 as Sikh Environment Day in the memory of great Guru who had special sensitivity towards environment.
Mr. Pannu informed that 15 lac trees would be planted in the city this year out of which five lac would be planted in Army areas. A special thrust would be on plantation of ancient varieties of trees of Punjab with special thrust on those that are hardy and can sustain extremities of weather and have a long life span. Varieties like Chakrasia, Jamun, Arjan, Mango, Silver Oak, Auriculiformis would be amongst those to be planted. To achieve the target, saplings would be procured from the nurseries of Forest Deptt. state wide and if need be, even from the other parts of the country like Dehradun where good quality of species are available. ADA would procure the saplings and planting operation would be carried out in Army areas by an NGO "Missionaries Khudai Khidmatgaran" headed by Mr. P.S. Bhatti, a former officer of defense forces, under technical guidance of Forest Deptt.
In the first phase of plantation in Army areas i.e between March to June 1, 38, 810 trees would be planted the number being approximately equivalent to the number of days passed since the birth of the Seventh Guru and in second phase up to November 2011 another 3.62 lac trees would be planted. Simultaneously 10 lac trees would also be planted in civil areas.
The joint efforts of environment lovers and district administration would go a long way in saving the environment and also in protecting the holy Golden Temple from the harmful pollutants, said Mr. Pannu.
Besides, Military and Civil officers Dr. Baljit Singh, Additional Chief Administrator of ADA, Col. Agnihotri, Incharge of Mighty Gunners unit, Mr. P.S.Bhatti from "Missionaries Khudai Khidmatgaran", Mr. N.S.Randhawa from Forest Deptt. were present on this occasion.