Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann
The Punjab government has taken a big decision to increase the forest area of the state. The government will work together with a Japanese agency. The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is serious about preserving the state’s environment and increasing the forest area. To this end, the government has set a goal of increasing the state’s forest area by 7.5 percent by 2030. To achieve this goal, the government will prepare a project in collaboration with the Japan Cooperation Agency.
Giving information about this project, Punjab Wildlife Conservation Minister Shri Lal Chand Kataruchar said that a review has been done with the forest department officials. The minister said increasing the number of trees in the state through agroforestry is a challenging task. To address these challenges, the government has decided to work with the Japanese agency. The government plans to carry out a project in collaboration with this agency, the cost of which will be Rs 792.88 million.
What is the main objective of the government?
Through this project, the Punjab Government aims to increase the forest area of the state and solve other environmental problems, including air pollution due to stubble burning, groundwater conservation, integrated watershed management of Shivalik and increasing farmers’ income.
In this plan, in addition to the conservation of the environment and forests, agriculture and livestock will also be promoted, so that the income of the population can increase. The government also aims to promote ecotourism in the state to support the local economy and improve the state’s wetlands while maintaining biodiversity.
Plan to be implemented in 2025-26
After getting approval from the state government, the Union Environment Ministry, Japan Agency and Punjab Forest Department will together prepare a detailed report on this project and finalize it. The Punjab government plans to implement this project by 2025-26, and it will last for five years.
