Minister Kataruchak Launches Pilot Project for Flowery Saplings on Highways in 5 Districts
-State-Level Committee to Oversee Initiative; Month-Long Poetry and Declamation Contests to Start July 23
Chandigarh, July 18
Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today announced a series of initiatives to promote a cleaner and greener Punjab, including a pilot project to plant flowery saplings along highways in five districts. A state-level committee will supervise the project and conduct periodic reviews to ensure its success.
The pilot project will be rolled out in Ropar (with a focus on Sri Anandpur Sahib), Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (emphasizing the area around Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s ancestral village of Khatkar Kalan), Sangrur, Pathankot, and Amritsar. Flowery saplings, selected for their height of 5 to 7 feet, will be planted at 500-meter intervals on both sides of highways in these districts. The minister emphasized that measures, including fencing, will be implemented to protect the saplings from stray animals and ensure their healthy growth.
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Speaking to mediapersons at Punjab Bhawan, Kataruchak highlighted that the project aims to enhance the aesthetic and environmental quality of the surroundings while generating employment opportunities under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
In another significant initiative, Kataruchak announced month-long poetry and declamation contests starting July 23, coinciding with the birth anniversary of renowned Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi, known for his love of nature. The contests, themed around tree and environmental protection, will be held in Batala and aim to raise awareness among the younger generation. They will be conducted across four categories: Primary (Classes I–V), Secondary (Classes VI–X), Senior Secondary (Classes XI–XII), and college students.
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