Rain Helpful For Plantation; Forest Section Swings Into Action In Patiala

With the rains approaching the Forest department has come into action as both the soil and air have ample moisture for a healthy plantation. The department is all set with a blueprint of the plantation of 11.5 lakh saplings which is double the amount of what was achieved last year. With less than even a month in hand and just seventy seven field staff, the department is working hard.

The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Patiala, Satendra Kumar Sagar has said that with the approaching pre monsoon, the conditions of the forest have becom even more favorable for the plantation. Previously when the mercury soared up to forty five degrees Celsius, transpiration in plants and trees also increased which made them long for more water and care. With a heavy shower, the water content and moisture have also increased in the soil and this will save 60 to 70 percent of diesel as well as the consumption of the water tankers.

Sagar also said that the department in the past one year had prepared thirty five lakh saplings at its seventeen nurseries. He said that the plantation will be done in 6 forests and along the route under the Green Punjab Scheme where 165 hectares of land will be covered under the national association for women’s action in development(NAWAD) seven hundred hectares of land will be covered, and 175 hectares under the Punjab forestry watershed development scheme.

The DFO said that the department had also planted 40,000 certified poplar cuttings, which would benefit the farmers in the following year.

He added that the department had dug pits by March 31 and now only saplings had to be planted.
Under the drive, trees like Sheesham, Burma Dhak, Arjun, Neem, Jamun and Peepal would be planted.