Punjab to develop Forest & Nature Awareness Parks to boost green cover

With a view to ensuring the increase in forest cover in the state as well as leaving a clean and green environment for future generations, the Punjab Government is developing eight Forest & Nature Awareness Parks.

Four of these parks are being developed in Pathankot, two in Patiala and one each in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur under the Greening Punjab Mission.

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The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department, under the tutelage of Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, is working on war footing with regard to the completion of these projects.

In Pathankot, Environment Parks are coming up at Village Gharota (0.50 Hectare), Kataruchak (0.75 Hectare), Panchayat land at Haibat Pindi (0.60 Hectare) and ITI Bamiyal.

Likewise, the environment parks are in the process of being developed in Patiala at two spots, including Baron Minor. In Amritsar, an environment park is coming up at village Jagdev Kalan Pul while a Van Chetna Park is underway at Bassi Purani in Hoshiarpur.

Regarding the park at Haibat Pind, the work concerning the nature trail with interlocking tiles has been completed while the installation of play equipment and the open-air shelters (Gazebo) is currently underway.

At Gharota also, the work concerning the nature trail with interlocking tiles has been completed while the installation of play equipment and the open-air shelters (Gazebo) is currently underway.

In Village Kataru Chak, the work to install a nature trail with interlocking tiles and the play equipment installation is continuing at a very rapid pace.

It has been the sincere endeavour of the state government to ensure maximum possible green cover as well as undertake measures to protect the environment for the sake of posterity.

In this regard, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department, Punjab, is in the process of drafting ‘The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2025’ with the aim to maintain green cover, ensuring ecological balance and preventing the pollution of the environment, besides conserving the soil.

The Act would be extendable to all urban areas of Punjab. As per the Act, it will apply to the limits of Nagar Councils, Municipal Corporations, Notified Area Committees, Town Area Committees, and Urban Development Authorities/bodies.

It also has the provision of a Tree Officer which means an Executive Officer in the urban local bodies in Punjab or any other officer so notified by the state government.