Pledge to make Islamabad The Green: CDA to plant 400,000 samplings in monsoon

The Capital Development Authority (CDA), as a part of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Islamabad the Green City, would plant 400,000 saplings during the Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign – 2010 over an area of 1108 in different areas of the federal capital.

This was decided in a meeting presided over by the Chairman CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, here on Monday, to review the progress of Clean and Green Islamabad Campaign launched in Monsoon-2008 and the arrangements for the upcoming Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, said that CDA is making all out efforts to increase the forest cover and preserve the green character of the Federal Capital. He said that CDA has planed to plant 100,000 saplings in the urban areas of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), which includes Avenues, Green Belts, Islamabad Highway, Parks, Playfields and new Sectors of G-13, H-11, I-14 and I-16. The Chairman CDA said that 300,000 saplings would be planted in the regional areas including Margallah Hills National Park (MHNP) and Simly Catchments.

Out of these, 170,000 saplings would be planted in Margallah Hills as a part of efforts to increase greenery in the Margallah Hills National Park, whereas 130,000 saplings would be planted in the Simly Catchment area.

Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said that CDA is focusing on planting the indigenous trees species including Chir Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Dhreak and Jacaranda. The focus is also being given to plant fruit plants including edible olive, guava, lokat, pear and jasmine. He said that strict monitoring of the planted trees would be carried out to ensure their maximum survival. The Chairman said that CDA actively participates in National Tree Plantation drive during each planting season and involve general public, educational institutions, NGOs, government employees and traders to make these campaigns a success.

The meeting was also informed that “Public Tree Plantation Day” would be organized by the Capital Development Authority during the current Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign in the new Sector H-12, which would be participated by Sector Citizen Committees, Traders, Educational Institutions, NGOs, Environmentalists and government employees.

Comprehensive arrangements are being made to launch awareness campaign in this regard so as maximum people may be involved in the plantation drive. Under the awareness campaign, posters, banners and steamers will be displayed in different areas of the city whereas car-stickers, paper-bags and badges carrying slogans for planting trees and “love for nature” would be distributed. Television and Radio talk shows and awareness through the newspapers would also be carried out. To make the Monsoon Tree Plantation more effective, the Capital Development Authority will establish sale points kiosks at prominent places like Jinnah Avenue, Shahrah-e-Kashmir and Islamabad Highway, where plants on subsidies rates will be available to the general public and free of cost to the educational institutions on their demand along with awareness and informative material. CDA has also planned mobile awareness campaign in collaboration with Ministry of Environment under which informative material, audio and video information on environment and tree plantation will be transmitted.

Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said that under the three-year “Clean and Green Islamabad Campaign” started in Monsoon-2008; CDA has so far planted 1.540 million plants in four seasons.-INFN