Trees planted on panchayat land outside the Punjab Land Protection Act will not be declared as forests under the Forest Act: Krishna Kumar

Trees planted on Panchayati land falling outside the area of Punjab Land Preservation Act, not to be declared as Forests under forest laws

Income from trees felled from area under Panchayats to go to Panchayats only

Target set for expanding area under forests & trees in State by 7.5 percent by year 2030

11 lakh saplings to be planted at Rupnagar during this season to make State clean and green: Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav

Rupnagar, July 6: The trees planted on the Panchayati land falling outside the area of Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, would not be declared as Forests under the forest laws and the income generated from the trees felled from the area under Panchayats would be completely held by the Panchayats only. This was stated by the Financial Commissioner (Forests) Krishan Kumar while chairing a high level meeting here at the District Administrative Complex (DAC).

He further disclosed that instructions in this regard have been issued to all the DCs and the campaign to plant saplings has begun in the villages.

There are about 13000 villages in Punjab and many of them in hilly regions are under the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, hence closed. Despite this, majority villages are outside hilly areas. Hence, saplings can be planted on large scale at the panchayati lands there.

Divulging more, Mr. Krishan Kumar said the Panchayati areas which are not closed under the abovesaid Act (i.e. Outside the Kandi areas), the Panchayats there have a misconception that planting saplings on the Panchayati land would make their area come under Forests and they would be banned from cutting the trees in that area. This is what makes them hesitant to plant saplings on the Panchayati land.

He further added that it must made clear that the Forest Department won’t declare as Forest any place which is under Panchayats and has plantations & falls outside the Punjab Land Preservation Act. Neither would there be any ban by the Department of Forests on the cutting of saplings planted by the Panchayats. He also mentioned that all the Panchayats must be made aware in this regard in order to enable them to contribute towards the increase in green cover and ensure a clean environment.

During hot summer season this time, the common people are bearing the brunt of severe heat wave which is directly connected to the cutting of trees. In Ludhiana, the temperature of the Earth’s surface has increased to 75 degrees which is a cause for worry for humanity. So, the only way forward to leave a clean and green environment for the sake of posteritys to plant trees and ensure their proper upkeep, said Mr. Krishan Kumar.

The DC, Dr. Preeti Yadav divulged that the target of 9 lakh saplings given by the State Government for plantation has been increased to 11 lakh and out of 21000 tubewells in the district, saplings have been planted on 4000 tubewells. Rest would be covered in 1 month.

On the occasion, ADC (General) Pooja Syal Grewal said that the saplings are also being planted at the dump sites and STP plants besides wherever garbage is dumped in the District. The schools and Government Institutions are also being covered under the sapling plantation campaign.