Global Institutes launched a Monsoon tree-plantation drive

Amritsar, Aug. 22 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Global Institutes launched a Monsoon tree-plantation drive in its vast campus premises, aimed to support world organizations working to diminish carbon footprints in each country, increasing green cover and conserving environment. Under the aegis of Eco Club, of the Institute, students, staff and non-teaching employees joined hands to plant more than 80 trees around the cricket ground and the hostel building of the institute.

Many of the trees were of indigenously developed species of “Amritsari Plum” by Institutes in-house / own  scientist Dr. J.S. Bal, Dean-Agriculture.  Dr. Bal developed a high quality plum named Plum-Amritsari (Alu Bukhara-Amritsari) best suited for Punjab in place of the hilly variety, having advantages of early bloom and ripening , sweeter and better than the indigenous variety. Other flowering and fruiting varieties were planted including Champa, Cassia, golmohar, Jacaranda, Silver fir, Bauhinia and Falsaa.

Mr Harinder Pal Singh Deputy Commissioner Excise and Taxation as chief guest, besides members of Rotary Club Civil, Amritsar jointly undertook the task. The Institute Chairman, Dr. BS Chandi inaugurating the plantation said, “Survival of the living world is based on trees, greenery and no life on Earth would be possible without vegetation and green cover. While deforestation is going on in the name of higher demand for agricultural land, it is seen that agriculture land too is speedily being grabbed by industry and mills.” Dr Chandi, on the occasion planted the first tree.

While planting a tree sapling, Vice Chairman of the Institute Dr Akashdeep Singh lamented – “Trees are being chopped mindlessly to be replaced by concrete development. This callous wielding of the axe would spell dire consequences for the city,” he stated and added, “It is like waging a war against ourselves. If we look close to our region, the consequences of thoughtless planning can be seen in number of recent disasters like the Jammu and Kashmir floods, the devastating landslides in Uttaranchal, the disaster in Leh besides other disasters like glacial lake bursts, hill –washes etc  are waiting to take place, due to thoughtless tampering of fragile zones besides little check on illegal construction and activities”.

He urged the government to replant trees on Mall Road which has been recently wiped out of all ancient tree cover. Dr. Maninder Singh, Director quoted lines from a poem to symbolize the significance of trees in the scheme of Nature.