'CDA to plant 400,000 saplings'

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) would plant 400,000 saplings during the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2010, Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said on Thursday. This was decided in a meeting presided by the chairman to review the progress of Clean and Green Islamabad Campaign launched in Monsoon-2008 and to fix the target for the upcoming Spring Tree Plantation Campaign.
Speaking on the occasion, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, said that CDA is making all out efforts to increase the forest cover and preserve the green character of the Federal Capital. He said that CDA has planed to plant 125,000 trees in the urban areas of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), which includes Avenues, Green Belts, Islamabad Highways, parks, play fields and new Sectors of G-13 and H-11.
The Chairman CDA said that 275,000 saplings would be planted in the regional areas including Margallah Hills and Simly Catchments. Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said that CDA is focusing on planting the indigenous trees' species including Chir Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Dhreak and Jacaranda. He said that strict monitoring of the planted trees would be carried out to ensure their maximum survival. The Chairman said that CDA actively participates in National Tree Plantation drive during each planting season and involves general public, educational institutions, NGOs, government employees and traders to make these campaigns a success.
Chairman CDA was appraised by the Environment Wing of the Authority that arrangements are being made for planting of sapling by the Federal Government Employees, Ministries and Divisions in the green belts of Sector G-13. The meeting was also informed that 'Public Tree Plantation Day' would be organised by the Capital Development Authority during the current Spring Tree Plantation Campaign in the new Sector G-13, which would be participated by sector citizen committees, traders, educational institutions, NGOs and environmentalists.
Chairman CDA said that CDA has 2,993 acres of land available for President Mass Tree Plantation Programme, which would be sponsored by corporate bodies. Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said that under the three-year 'Clean and Green Islamabad Campaign' started in Monsoon-2008, CDA has so far planted 11, 64,000 plants in three seasons against a target of 2,400,000 plants.-PR