Monday, May 2, 2016

Plant saplings on railway land in Haryana

CHANDIGARH, MAY 2
Haryana and Indian Railways today signed an agreement to plant saplings on railway land for the success of ‘Green India Mission’ as envisaged by Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi.
To begin with, 1.25 lakh saplings would be planted over an area of  115 hectares along Sonipat-Jind and Rohtak-Rewari railway lines in the initial phase.
          The agreement was signed by Haryana Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Dr. (Mrs.) Amarinder Kaur, and Chief Engineer/P&D, Northern Railway, Mr. Pankaj Saxena, in the presence of Union Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister, Mr. Prakash Javadekar, and Haryana Forests Minister, Rao Narbir Singh in New Delhi today.
          While speaking on the occasion, Union Railways Minister, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, said that with a view to making the ‘Green India Mission’   a grand success, five crore saplings would be planted on railway land.He  said that afforestation would be carried out in the entire country through Joint Forest Management. The participation of Ministries of Railways and Environment and Forest Department of state government would be ensured. He said that plantation along railway track would not only reduce pollution, but would also provide employment opportunities and reduce soil erosion, which would reduce the chances of mishaps. He said that in the first phase, such agreements have been signed with Haryana and Punjab and talks were on with the Maharashtra Government.
           Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister, Mr. Prakash Javadekar, said that plantation would also be taken up along National Highways to promote afforestation. He said that the Department had also set a rule that after plantation, the authority to fell trees would also lie with the departments concerned, which would promote re-plantation. He said that the country imports timber worth Rs 40,000 crore. With afforestation, more employment opportunities would be generated and the economic condition of the country would also be strengthened.
        Haryana Forests Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, said that under the agreement, 1.25 lakh saplings would be planted on 115 hectares along Sonipat-Jind and Rohtak-Rewari railway lines in the initial phase.
        Those present on this occasion included State BJP President, Mr. Subhash Barala, Principal Secretary, Forests, Mr. Amit Jha, and officers of Central Government.

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