LAHORE: Irrigation Department Punjab on Friday announced to plant one million saplings on the banks of canal throughout the province in next one month. Every Executive Engineer will ensure plantation of at least 20,000 saplings in its respective division to meet the target of planting one million plants in the province. This was announced by the Secretary Irrigation Punjab Saif Awan while addressing the weekly meeting of the Chief Engineers. He said that the plantation campaign by the department will initially continue for three months and one million saplings will be planted in first month.

This step is being taken in the light of a verdict of the Supreme Court in which the court had directed all the provincial governments to plant trees on the banks of canals and assigned this task to irrigation departments. The Secretary directed the officers concerned to adopt indigenous varieties for plantation on banks of canals and suitable distance should be kept between two saplings. He also directed that mature plants should be selected for plantation to ensure success of this movement.

He also directed the department concerned to immediately release budget for this movement. He also urged the officers to prepare a work plan for plantation on canal banks and in rest houses of the irrigation department. He also directed for holding weekly meetings to review performance of different divisions in this regard. He was of the view that plantation will also strengthen the banks of canal and also enhance beauty and reduce environment pollution.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020