CM announces Incentives for students to plant trees

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 19

In an innovative scheme to ensure the active participation of school students in environment conservation, Haryana Government has decided to give incentive of Rs 50 per student for every live tree planted by them after every six months. This incentive would be given for a period of three years. Besides, they would also be provided with a book based on environment conservation.

          This and several other decisions were taken in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal here today to review the progress of five environment friendly schemes of different departments here today. Development and Panchayats Minister, Mr O.P Dhankar, Forests Minister Rao Narbir Singh, Urban Local Bodies Minister Mrs Kavita Jain and Minister of State for Public Health and Engineering Dr Banwari Lal were also present in the meeting.

          It was also decided that from tomorrow onward, reused glass  water bottles would be used in the Haryana  Civil Secretariat here as a alternative to the single-use plastic water bottles, the use of which has recently been banned by the State Government in all its offices across the State.

          It was informed that a state-wide tree plantation drive would be launched by School Education Department under which students of sixth to 12th classes of both government and private schools would be motivated to plant atleast one tree within their house compound or at any public place. Besides planting the trees, the students would also ensure its upkeep for three years. The number of students studying in classes 6th to 12th in the State is about 22 lakh.

          It was also informed that to enable the students to build a connection with the trees they plant; the students would be allowed to name the plant after any great personality or their ancestors. The tree plantation drive would be started from July 10 and the Department of Forest would made available adequate number of saplings. The class in-charge and in-charge of Eco Club in schools have been entrusted with the responsibility of plantation by organizing functions on holidays. The Chief Minister directed the Education Department to submit him progress report every week in this regard.

          While reviewing the progress of ‘Tuti Lagao Jal Bachao Campaign’, the Chief Minister directed to launch a massive drive to stop the wastage of water due to open pipes and said that taps should be installed in all villages wherever required. He also directed to make the village Panchayats more aware to prevent wastage of water. He said that besides a government programme, it should also be made a social programme by ensuring the active participation of GRAVIT volunteers.

          It was informed that the Public Health Engineering Department and Rural Development Department has jointly launched Tuti Lagao Jal Bachao Campaign in the State which would continue upto December 31, 2018. Under this campaign, a target has been fixed to install one lakh tap in the State in the first phase as per the requirement. In addition, one lakh tap would be provided to Developments and Panchayats Department for their installation by GRAVIT volunteers in villages. The Chief Minister directed to expedite the process to install water taps and submit him the district wise progress report fortnightly.

          Mr Manohar Lal issued directions to the Urban Local Bodies Department to prepare listing of all houses built over an area of 500 square yards and above and low lying plots of Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and in areas falling under ten Municipal Corporations in the State so that the rain water harvesting system should be made mandatory in such plots. It was informed that the ward level committee constituted by the Urban Local Bodies Department has started the listing of such plots and work would be completed by July, 2018.

          It was informed that the existing halogen, sodium vapor bulbs and tube lights in government offices of the State would be replaced with energy efficient LED lights before August 15, 2018. While HAREDA has already completed the exercise of checking in all 17 government offices in Panchkula, the work to conduct similar exercise in government offices at district level has been assigned to Deputy Commissioner concerned.

          Among those present in the meeting included Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Rakesh Gupta, Deputy Principal Secretary Mr Mandeep Singh Brar, Additional Chief Secretary Renewable Energy Department Mr P.K Mahapatra, Additional Chief Secretary Public Health Engineering Mr Rajiv Arora, Additional Chief Secretary School Education Mrs Dheera Khandelwal, Additional Chief Secretary Public Works (Building and Roads) Mr Alok Nigam, Principal Secretary Urban Local Bodies Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, Principal Secretary Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Dr Abhilaksh Likhi,  Principal Secretary Town and Country Planning Mr A.K Singh, Managing Director, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Mr Vineet Garg, Director General Urban Local Bodies Mr Nitin Yadav and other senior officers of the State Government.

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