MP NEWS : Additional Chief Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Department, Shri Sanjay Shukla, said that due to the pressure of increasing population, the environment of cities is being affected. There is a need to increase green areas in cities through public participation. He also emphasized that along with plantation, we must ensure the responsibility of protecting the plants. Additional Chief Secretary Shri Shukla was addressing a workshop focused on Amrit Harit Maha Abhiyan at Rabindra Bhavan, Bhopal, on Friday. The purpose of the workshop is to promote the expansion of green areas in urban regions and activities and initiatives related to environmental protection. Representatives of all urban bodies participated in the workshop.
Additional Chief Secretary Shri Shukla said that during the upcoming rainy season, extensive preparations should be made at identified locations for plantation. Shri Shukla said plantations should be done around government building premises, college and school campuses. He said that approximately 20 to 25 percent of the total area of cities should be rich green area. The Additional Chief Secretary said that in our country, since ancient times, trees planted with faith have been planted, and we can plant more of them according to local conditions. These can include Mango, Jamun, Peepal, Neem, etc. He said that initiatives should also be made to reward urban bodies that perform well.
One crore plantation programme
Urban Administration and Development Commissioner Shri Sanket Bhondwe said that during the rainy season, a program of one crore plantations has been prepared in all urban bodies of the state. He said that extensive plantation and responsibility for the protection of trees can be successful only with 100% public participation. The Commissioner said that a 3-year action plan should also be prepared for the protection of plantations. The Commissioner said that in each Nagar Parishad (Town Council), a plan for one lakh plantation, in Nagar Palika (Municipality) for five lakh, and in Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) for 15 to 20 lakh plantations should be prepared. Discussing industrial areas, the Commissioner said that in the Pithampur industrial area, a plantation plan of 11 lakh has been prepared for this rainy season. Similar plans are being prepared for industrial areas including Mandideep. The Commissioner said that we need to prepare Amrit Mitras, who will assist in this work.
Subject experts provide information
In the workshop, Additional Commissioner Shri Kailash Wankhede, Dr. Yogesh Dube of IIFM provided information on management of blue-green infrastructure in urban infrastructure; Shri Ramratan of EPCO on climate change; Shri Saurabh Popli of SPA Bhopal on green systems in urban places; Additional Commissioner Ms. Tina Yadav on environmental protection related laws; and Chief Engineer Shri Pradeep Mishra on development of urban forests. Films focused on Divyang Park and modern parks in Chhindwara were shown. A large number of citizens viewed the exhibition held at Rabindra Bhavan campus. The exhibition displayed and sold fertilizers, seeds, improved varieties of plants, and useful instruments for agriculture and horticulture.