National Highway to be turned green in Punjab

Tribune News Service
Mohali, July 27

In a bid to green National Highways across Punjab, a joint massive plantation drive has been launched by the Punjab Forest Department with the collaboration of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

This drive was formally initiated by signing an MOU between Punjab Forest Department and NHAI today to green these barren strips along National Highways under the Green Highways Mission project.

V.B. Kumar, PCCF (HoFF) informed this project aims to bring lands acquired by NHAI under plantation to increase the productivity of this land, to add to ecosystem services along Highways and hence transform them into lush Green linear Forests.

The formal collaboration between the two agencies started with the first plantation project (2020-21) on NH 54 (Amritsar-Pathankot Section) undertaken by the Forest Department at the behest of NHAI, which has given fruitful results.

He said we shall be taking up plantation on five National Highways across the state where we intend to plant 1,36,842 saplings during the current plantation season during the financial year 2021-22 and ensure its subsequent aftercare by doing various maintenance operations.

The total financial outlay for this project is 25.42 crores out of which 20.37 crores will be utilized during the current financial year for doing various earthworks, Plantation, aftercare and its protection through barbed wire and tree guards. The plantation will be jointly monitored through IT-enabled apps and wherever possible QR codes will be shared for public disclosure/dissemination.

Forest Department shall be doing thematic plantation to give it an aesthetic look with Avenue lines having ornamental small to medium height firm rooted trees and subsequent rows of native species having timber, fruit, medicinal and ecological value.