- Expresses Satisfaction over the growth of trees planted alongside National Highway
Nawanshahr: Deputy Commissioner, Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa said on Monday that Phagwara-Nawanshahr-Rupnagar National Highway would be converted into complete green corridor by next two years.
During inspection of survival and growth rate of over 29000 saplings planted on both sides of 80-km long stretch of Phagwara-Nawanshahr-Rupnagar four-lane highway, NPS Randhawa said that the Forest Department’s Nawanshahr Division had started to develop this newly built road as green corridor two years ago with the help of National Highway Authority of India. The Forest Department carried out plantation, beautification, laying grass, landscaping along national highway besides focusing on its proper maintenance and growth.
He said that during 2020-21 a total of 17877 saplings were planted while on the very next year i.e. 2021-22, 11979 more trees were planted on this road. He said that surprisingly the relentless efforts to convert both sides into lush green belt gave the desired results and now a days the growth rate that is almost 90 percent has changed the look of this road. He said that ornamental plants, traditional plants and fruit trees were among the saplings planted here and all have good results of growth.
He said that the work started two years ago to transform the highway into lush green forest cover would be completed by next two years when the growth of the planted trees would be at its best.
Randhawa directed the Divisional Forest Officer, Satinder Singh who was present during the inspection to take care of the green stretch which is in growing stage carefully so that the final result could be put as an exemplary work for others too.
He said that at the time of construction and widening of this main road, there was a grave concern among the people and environmentalists regarding axing of trees but now we have achieved the challengeable job of reconstructing of green belt along the both sides of the National Highway which would be a soothing effect for all of us.