With a view to increase green cover in the State and protect the wildlife, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department has undertaken remarkable initiatives during the year 2024. This involved plantation of 2.84 Lakh saplings under various schemes such as the State Authority CAMPA and Greening Punjab Mission and furthermore, 3153.33 Hectare area has been brought under forests.
Stating this, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that ‘Tree Preservation policy for Non-Forest Government and Public Lands-2024’ was okayed by the State Cabinet in order to save the trees in Non-Forest and Government lands from illegal felling besides saving the environment from pollution and promote afforestation.
Also, 28.99 lakh saplings stand planted at the tubewells as per the policy of planting at least 4 saplings per tubewell, said the Minister adding that 46 Pavittar Van and 268 Nanak Bagichis were also set up during the year. As many as 78 toilets are being constructed in the nurseries of the department for the women staff members.
A project worth Rs. 792.88 Crore has got approval from the Union Government to meet the target to increase forest cover to 7.5% by 2030. The project would be implemented over a time period of 5 years and would involve active collaboration of the State Government with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
In terms of employment generation, over a period of two years, as many as 276 direct recruitments have been made by the department in the cadres of Deputy Ranger, Forester, Forest Guard, Clerk etc. As regards the Wildlife Preservation Department, the biggest & longest Walk In-Aviary of the country has been unveiled at the Chhatbir Zoo.
An ultra modern dinosaur park has also been set up at the Zoo. The 5 wetlands of Punjab namely- Harike, Ropar, Kanjhli, Keshopur and Nangal have been identified by the Union Government for being developed on priority.
An amount of Rs. 25.29 Crore has been kept for the overall development of the various zoos and the wildlife throughout the State.