Haryana minister stresses on need for healthy environment

Cautioning people about possibility of fire in the forests during the summer season, Haryana minister Rao Narbir Singh today said owing to the global warming and climate change, the need of maintaining a healthy environment is increasing day by day.

He said Kalka, Pinjore and Morni in district Panchkula, Kalesar in Yamunanagar district, Faridabad, Gurugram, Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani districts fall under the forest area where the possibility of fire during the summer season is quite high.

While laying special emphasis on the conservation of forest resources, Singh, who is the state forest minister, said besides the government efforts in this direction, Van Mahotsava is organised in the state every year as part of social responsibility of non-government organisations and industries.

Apart from this, a unique scheme -- 'Har Ghar Hariyali-Haryana ki Khushhali' -- has been started. The forest department has identified several places in the state where the forest area as well as the number of trees are being increased through plantation, he said.

Holding rapid urbanisation, widening of roads and expansion of railway lines responsible for decrease in forest area, Singh said trees would be axed for development works only when it is necessary.

He said that with a view of realising the Green India Mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, five crore saplings would be planted on the land of railways.

Initially, plantation would be done along Sonepat-Jind and Rohtak-Rewari railway lines, Singh said.