E-Paper
Plant and forget
The shortage of space and no assured looking after prevent the government's Green Punjab mission from growing. The state's 85% land is in private hands. "There is hardly any space to grow trees," said Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, president of the Faridkot unit of the Bharti Kisan Union. "No crop can grow under the canopies, and eucalyptus should not be planted for it needs more water to grow and dries up the soil."
The shortage of space and no assured looking after prevent the government's Green Punjab mission from growing. The state's 85% land is in private hands. "There is hardly any space to grow trees," said Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, president of the Faridkot unit of the Bharti Kisan Union. "No crop can grow under the canopies, and eucalyptus should not be planted for it needs more water to grow and dries up the soil."
The BKU wants a notification from the government that the trees grown along the link roads, main roads and wherever it affects farmers will be the property of the tillers. "This way, farmers will be encouraged to grow and nurture trees," said Dallewal.
"About 10 years ago, the forest department planted roadside trees that farmers then destroyed. I looked after all the eucalyptus plants on my land that are now full-grown trees," said Gurnam
Singh of Bargari village.
"However, I still don't own the trees.It is really disappointing." The electricity department had killed the scope of growing trees along many roads by its supply lines over there, said farmer Ruby Brar. "The state government and non-government organisation plant lakhs of saplings every year," said Sukha of Niamiwala village. "Only a few plants survive, for no one looks after any. Only farmers can look after the trees."
The forest department had planted trees along a canal that runs through Sukha's village. Goats ate all the plants. The herd will eat every shrub, except Tahli, which is a good option for planting. The theft and axing of trees on the government land has also damaged the forests. Seven posts of the forest guard are vacant in the Faridkot range alone, while the division has five ranges of the size.
The forest department has no worker to irrigate the plants, and guard the trees. Daily-wage earners do the planting and other work. The state's forest cover is reduced to below 7% as opposed to the required minimum of 33%.
"The forest department now takes saplings and technical guidance to people," said divisional forest officer Sanjay Bansal at Muktsar, "The government wants to enhance the forest cover by 15%, for which, it will hire more people." "We are doing our best to save the planted saplings," said deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat. "We have chosen government schools and institutes, and fields to plant the saplings in."
