For environment protection planning sector, an amount of Rs 163 million has been allocated in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2004-05, showing an increase of 82 percent from the last year allocation of Rs 90 million.
Of this amount, Rs 44.30 million would be spent on 80 on-going projects, out of which seven would be completed soon. Another eight new schemes have been provided full funds.
The major schemes where work would be completed were as follows: monitoring of sub-soil water quality in 20 districts; regular air quality monitoring in six districts; environmental education and communication programme; feasibility study for Multan tannery zone; up-gradation of EPD laboratory at Lahore; installation of suspended particulate meter (SPM) display system in Lahore; construction of reed beds waste water treatment system in four rural areas of Punjab; and provision of pollution measuring equipment to district offices of environment protection.
According to the Punjab Budget 2004-05 document, to increase present four percent area under forest to the desirable level of 25 percent, an amount of Rs 46.328 million has been provided for the forestry sector in ADP 2004-05.
For a project of rehabilitation of three irrigation plantations, an allocation of Rs 10.213 million has been included in ADP, which would increase the productivity of these plantations.
Another project for afforestation of blank reaches along canals has been included with an allocation of Rs 19.998 million.