Punjab's tree cover increases, the vision of 'Har Ghar Baghicha' (Every home garden) is being realized
Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has made environmental conservation a core mission of its governance. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, historic progress has been made in the state's green cover over the past two years. In 2023-24, the government planted a record 12 million trees, with a target of 30 million for 2024-25. This campaign has become more than just a government program, but a mass movement. This greenery campaign is now realizing the vision of 'Har Ghar Baghicha' (Every Home Garden) with public participation in villages, schools, religious sites, and urban areas.
This initiative was also necessary for Punjab because the state's forest cover has been steadily declining over the past two decades. According to a central government report, between 2001 and 2023, Punjab's forest area declined from 4.80 percent to 3.67 percent, and tree cover from 3.20 percent to 2.92 percent. This means that in 22 years, Punjab lost 1.13 percent of its forest area and 0.28 percent of its tree cover.
This proves the complete failure of the Congress and Akali Dal governments in protecting the environment. They limited initiatives like the Greening Punjab Mission to mere paperwork, yielding zero results on the ground. In 2012, the Akali government claimed to have set a target of planting 400 million trees by 2020, spending ₹1,900 crore. However, the reality was that only 50 million trees were planted, of which only 25-30 percent survived. The failure of this mission demonstrated that the previous governments were not focused on environmental protection, but on publicity and contracting. Advertisements were issued in the name of tree plantation, but neither monitoring nor care was provided for the trees.
Meanwhile, indiscriminate tree felling further weakened Punjab's vitality. Between 2010 and 2020, 800,000 to 900,000 trees were felled in the name of development projects. In 2013-14 alone, 200,000 were felled, 212,000 in 2014-15, and 150,000 in 2010-11. The situation became even more dire during the Congress regime, when the then Forest Minister, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, was arrested in a forest scam. According to the vigilance report, he took a bribe of ₹500 for every felled khair tree and extorted ₹10-20 lakh for the transfer of officials. This symbolizes that previous governments have even made Punjab's greenery a victim of corruption. Meanwhile, the Mann government reformed this entire system and implemented the Tree Preservation Policy in 2024. This policy ensures the protection of trees even on non-forest and government land. Now, no tree can be cut without permission. This policy not only protects trees but also gives them legal rights. With this vision, the government made compensatory afforestation mandatory in every development project. In 2023-24, trees were planted on 940.384 hectares of land, which is a solid proof of Punjab's environmental improvement.
The impact of these concrete efforts is now clearly visible. According to the Government of India's Forest Survey Report 2023, tree cover in Punjab has increased by 177.22 square kilometers, the largest increase in the last fifteen years. This is not just a statistic, but it demonstrates that under the leadership of the Bhagwant Mann government, every citizen is becoming a part of environmental protection. Punjab is now moving in a direction where development and environment go hand in hand. The Mann government has also linked this campaign with religious and cultural sentiments. Inspired by the teachings of Gurbani, "Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharti Mahat," schemes like Nanak Baghis and Sacred Forests were launched in the state.
To date, 105 Nanak Baghis and 268 Sacred Forests have been established. These small green spaces are not only increasing oxygen but also becoming the green lungs of urban areas. Additionally, under the Punjab Hariyawali Wave, 28.99 lakh saplings have been planted near 3.95 lakh tube wells, empowering farmers to become partners in this greenery mission. The Mann government has also taken global steps regarding the environment. A project worth Rs 792.88 crore has been initiated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, under which the target is to increase Punjab's forest cover to 7.5% by 2030. This project will be implemented over the next five years, starting from 2025-26, and will not only increase greenery but also provide employment to thousands of youth. These initiatives have made Punjab a leading state in environmental protection across the country.
Today, Punjab is witnessing a new green revolution. Trees that were cut down due to the negligence of previous governments are now finding their roots again.
Trees are the breath of Punjab: Chief Minister Mann
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's clear message that trees are the breath of Punjab and that protecting them is Punjab's duty has now become a public resolve. The greenery that was destroyed by the corrupt policies of the Congress and the Akali Dal has been revived by the honest government of the Aam Aadmi Party. This new Punjab is becoming self-reliant not only in agriculture but also in greenery—a true Rangla, Green Punjab. (Advertorial)