Chandigarh has become the greenest city of the country with 35.5 per cent of its total 114 square km area being under forest and tree cover.
CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh has become the greenest city of the country with 35.5 per cent of its total 114 square km area being under forest and tree cover, according to an official report.
It said that 22.22 lakh saplings have been planted in the last 15 years by different departments of the Chandigarh administration.
The massive aforestation activities undertaken by the administration and other organizations have resulted in a sharp increase in the green cover of Chandigarh and it has become a national leader.
Forest and tree cover of Chandigarh is 35.5 per cent of its total geographical area, which is the highest in any city of India, said the report of the Union Territory Administration.
The Department of Environment and Forests is creating awareness among masses, particularly, students, to plant more and more saplings and to popularise eco-friendly activities on a sustained basis, an official spokesman said.
He said that various NGOs, educational institutions, Resident Welfare Associations, farmers and people of Chandigarh have taken keen interest in aforestation activities and planted saplings in the land under their possession.
The general public has been assisted by the Forest Department and Horticulture Wings of Municipal Corporation and Engineering Department of Chandigarh Administration in the form of distribution of saplings free of cost and also selling them at the subsidized rates.
The spokesman said that the total number of saplings distributed and sold by all agencies and Forest Department are 7, 50,000 in the last 15 years.
Forest Department alone has distributed 3, 70,000 saplings free of cost to the people of Chandigarh.
Chandigarh Administration is giving permission for felling of trees, which are dead, wind fallen, diseased and which are threatening life and property and obstructing traffic.
Permission for removal of trees is also accorded to execute development works. While issuing permission for felling of trees for such projects, it is ensured that at least double the number of trees felled is planted to compensate the loss of forest and environment.
In the 15 years from 1991 - 2006, 13,843 number of trees have been felled by different departments and more than 50,000 trees planted.
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