Ambitious Green Srinagar Initiative under which two lakh tree saplings will be planted and maintained in schools and institutional areas and along avenues across the district was Friday officially launched.
Divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan and deputycommissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary flagged off a fleet of 10dedicated green vehicles as part of the launch from DC Office Srinagar here.
On the occasion, the divisional commissioner commended theDC for drawing up this most needed and well-thought-out initiative aimed atmaking Srinagar green in the truest sense involving meaningful and smartplantation and post-plantation maintenance to get the desired results.
The project undertakes to planting 50000 Chinar saplings inaddition to some 1 lakh other tree saplings across the district during thefirst year. Plants exposed to public or vehicular movements will also betree-guarded under the project.
Orders for saplings can be made using the Green Srinagarmobile application using which will enable keeping track of orders and ensuringpost-plantation maintenance thereof.
The project also involves plantation in 100 schoolsidentified from across the district with some 200 saplings to be planted ineach one of these schools. Green Clubs of 20-30 students created in each ofthese school will volunteer in plantation exercise in their schools andcatchment areas. Their involvement is aimed at eliciting greater communityparticipation in the greening initiative.
Plantation along institutional areas and on roads amongother public spaces will be undertaken by the Landscaping division of thePublic Works Department. Over a dozen banks and institutions have alsoassociated their organisations with the initiative.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Shahid Iqbal said the fleet ofdedicated vehicles flagged off on the occasion will reach out to households andinstitutions for plantation. He said a number of roads have also been finalisedfor strip plantation under the project.
He also said that a reserve stock of saplings has also beenmaintained at various locations for supply to institutions and organisations.
Dr Shahid said besides the mobile application the generalpublic can call at phone numbers 7780819894, 6005830787 and 7006166039 to placetheir requests for plantation adding that order requests can also be emailed atgreensrinagar@gmail.com.