Over five crore saplings produced in forest nurseries

Punjab Forest Department has grown more than five crore saplings in various departmental nurseries under the 'Greening Punjab Mission' targetted at planting 40 crore saplings within the next seven years.
The state Forest and Wild Life Preservation minister Surjeet Kumar Jayani today said, the department used to grow around 1.70 crore saplings annually, but has ramped up its activities and close to five crore seedlings are now ready in 247 nurseries for plantation.
The saplings will help in the government's plantation drive, aimed at enhancing Punjab's forest cover from existing 7 per cent to 15 per cent, he said.
60 lakh saplings have been planted acorss various villages in the state and the remaining plants have been distributed among government and non-government institutions as well as farmers for agro forestry, Jayani said.