Punjab News Daily
Chandigarh, July 18

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday directed officials to strengthen forest conservation measures, increase the state’s green cover and encourage wider public participation in the upcoming Van Mahotsav plantation campaign.

While chairing a review meeting with the Forest Department, Saini emphasized that plantation drives should go beyond merely increasing the number of saplings. He stressed the need to ensure their protection, proper maintenance and long-term survival.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to geo-tag all planted saplings, maintain digital records and conduct regular monitoring. He also directed that the concerned institutions be made accountable for the care and upkeep of the saplings.

The chief minister asked officials to identify suitable sites for plantation in panchayats, urban local bodies, municipal corporations, municipal councils and government institutions. To strengthen forest protection, Saini directed officials to curb illegal tree felling and digitally map valuable species, such as Khair, Sal and Shisham, through geo-fencing and numbering.

He called for stronger forest check posts, regular inspections by forest guards and early recruitment to vacant Forest Guard posts, with 20 per cent of the vacancies to be filled by Agniveers in accordance with existing provisions.

Expressing concern over forest fires, Saini directed the department to establish an effective fire-prevention mechanism and ensure strict legal action against those responsible for deliberately setting forests on fire.

Emphasising the link between water conservation and forest protection, he instructed officials to enhance dam capacity, strengthen water harvesting systems, restore existing water harvesting structures and use treated water to maintain plantations wherever feasible.

The chief minister said the forthcoming Van Mahotsav should become a mass movement involving government departments, educational institutions, hospitals, industries, panchayats and voluntary organisations.

Saini said environmental conservation is a shared responsibility of both the government and society and directed officials to encourage and support individuals and organisations undertaking plantation activities.

Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Forest and Wildlife) Sudhir Rajpal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Arun Kumar Gupta and other forest department officers, attended the meeting.