Brick kilns tasked with tree planting

RAWALPINDI:

The Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change has made it mandatory to plant 50 trees in every brick kiln to improve forests and the environment. Strict instructions have also been issued to complete this plantation by April 30.

There are a total of 234 brick kilns in Rawalpindi district, in which a total of 11,700 saplings will be planted, while 0.4 million saplings will be planted in brick kilns across Punjab.

The Director General of the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change has also issued formal SOPs for this plantation.

When contacted, the Senior Research Officer of the Environment Protection Department, Rawalpindi, Ameen Baig, confirmed the development and said: “We are starting this plantation in Rawalpindi from March 21.”

According to the SOP in this regard, these 50 plants will be planted inside the brick kilns at suitable places, along the boundary wall and no plant will be smaller than five feet. The cost of these plants will be paid by the brick kiln owners.

The forest department, environment protection department and kiln owners will jointly carry out this plantation. The field staff of the Environment Protection Department will monitor these plants and will send regular monitoring reports about the plantations.

The official further explained that prizes will also be given for the best performance while the plants to be planted will be fruit-bearing and shade trees. The plantation will also make environment friendly inside brick kilns and boundary walls, he said.