The Punjab Forest Department has sanctioned the plantation of different kinds of saplings in the public and private forests of the four hilly tehsils of Murree Kotli Sattian, Kahuta and Kallar Syedan during the spring plantation drive which is starting from February 15.
Under this campaign, 3.5 million new saplings will be planted in Rawalpindi division.
The Forest Department, Divisional Forest Officer, Gulzar, has shared plans to purchase all fruit trees available in the open market. The department has called for formal tenders in this regard. Among the fruits that will be planted are plums, peaches, guavas, apples, lychees, olives, figs, all types of grapes, walnuts, almonds, Japanese Persimmons, apricots, lemons, oranges, loquats and pomegranates.
The Forest Department has requested at least five feet tall plants of the fruits mentioned from private sector nurseries. Tenders for these plants will be opened on January 22.
The fruit trees will be planted in remote areas of the mountains and of these, fibrous (bare root) plants will be planted in the forested parts of the mountain. While on the distant high mountains, clove plants will be planted by filling its seeds within balls of rolled clay and throwing them over using a slingshot.
This year, an additional two million new plants are expected to grow from fruits that fall off of the planted trees. The spring plantation drive will continue for ten months, going from February 15 to April 15.
Installation of street lights
Despite allocated funds, the installation of street lights in Kotli Sattian faces persistent delays, revealing administrative inefficiency on the part of the local administration.
Read Misplaced priorities: Street lights dysfunctional in many areas
The Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) deals with the electricity meter designated for street lights, exacerbating the situation.
The public, local businesses, and residents of Kotli Sattian, particularly those in the main market, express their frustration as the funds for street lights have not been utilized yet.
The traders said that repeated applications from the business community and local dignitaries regarding this issue to the Assistant Commissioner's office in Kotli Sattian have gone unanswered, exacerbating the problem. Despite assurances of imminent resolution, no progress has been made so far.
The electricity meter of the TMA office was disconnected for the last three months due to non-payment of the bill. Later, the bill was deposited, but due to non-reconnection, the meter could not be connected again, on which TMA has occupied the electricity meter installed for street lights and electricity is being used from there, which is tantamount to the oppression of the common people and the business community, because the meter installed for street lights should be used only for that purpose, by installing street lights.
Adding to the concerns, the TMA's electricity meter, disconnected for the last three months due to non-payment of bills. Later, the bill was paid but despite that the meter remained disconnected which means the TMA has occupied the electricity meter meant for street lights, diverting its use for general electricity consumption.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2024.
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