93233 saplings given free of cost in Bathinda
Bathinda, July 12 (APS Brar)
Launched under the Mission Tandarust Punjab for increasing the green cover of state, the I-hariyali mobile application in Bathinda has give more than 93233 saplings free of cost in the district over the past one month. Giving this information Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Mr Diprava Lakra stated that the Punjab government's forest department had launched this app making it easier for people to select plant species of their choice and place orders for the same using the latest technique.
Mr Lakra said that the technology assisted help was proving to be a game changer for Bathinda area that was witnessing depleting green covers. It will also enable the area residents to create green and pollution free Bathinda.
The Divisional Forest Officer Mr Amritpal Singh stated that the 93233 saplings have been supplied in past one month that include Sukhchain, neem, gulmohar, burma dek, mulberry, amaltas, jacranda, jand, arjun, jamun etc saplings.
The saplings have been distributed in local urban bodies including 23 nagar councils and nagar panchayats to 3436 beneficiaries. In rural areas it has covered 246 villages and 3708 beneficiaries.
The DFO added that using app, people can order plants from eleven nurseries of the forest department located at Bathinda, Gobindpura, Goniana, Bir Talab, Jangirana, Bhagiwander, Maur, Bir Mandi Phool, Sidhana, Poohla and Dyalpura.
Launched by the Forest Department, the app is available on the Google Play Store an all Android phones. It enables user to choose a plant ranging from timber, ornamental, medicinal, fruits or ornamental shrubs. Enabled by GPRS, the users are shown nurseries near them from where they could search orders saplings as per requirement. User, who books a sapling through the app, receives an SMS on mobile which is used to collect that sapling from nursery in a fixed time.