A CELEBRATION OF PLANTS: On the eve of World Environment Day 2021, there was a gala day out at the Campal Forest Department gardens… with many wanting to cart home as many plants as they could! All kinds of plants are being distributed by the Goa Forest Department for next 3 months for free!

By Our Special Correspondent

PERHAPS it’s a case of after the kill, the relief of balm! Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is seriously in a mood to make up for the tragedies of Covid-19 and typhoon Tauktae and whatever government failure to save more lives. He launched a generous program of distribution of saplings on the eve of World Environment Day (June 5) at the Forest Department’s Campal gardens on Friday, June 4, 2021, in the presence of a several dignitaries and invitees for the occasion.
Before the function the CM had planted an aonla or Indian gooseberry tree sapling on the grounds. He was accompanied by CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate, Deputy Mayor Vasant Agshikar, Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Forests) Puneet Goyal, Subhash Chandra (IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forests), Santosh Kumar (IFS, APCCF) & Chief Wildlife Warden and senior officers of the Goa government.
In his speech the CM was all praise for the wonderful world of medicinal plants and spoke of how the government of Goa is sensitive to the need to conserve and promote a green world. Therefore, amongst other programs he is also encouraging the planting of fruit trees in forestlands for the benefit of those who depend on forest produce, including the creatures of the wild.
The distribution of plants is a three-month long program and during this time the public may register and freely take whatever saplings they wish both from the extensive nurseries set up at the Campal Forest Department grounds and presumably also other government plant nurseries. The gesture of free distribution of saplings is open in the State’s 23 forest nurseries and the program will continue till September 5 or as long as stocks last presumably.
Goa’s State nurseries have a large collection of saplings for distribution and this includes ornamental, medicinal as also commercial saplings of trees. There are something like 5 lakh saplings reserved for distribution to the public and whosoever would like to set up gardens for the benefit of health and healing for all living creatures.
In order to facilitate tree plantation the government has exempted registered of new commercial tree plantation areas and all the trees raised henceforth on private non-forest land, from provisions of the Goa (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1984. It’s a people-friendly policy to encourage farmers and other landowners to take up commercial tree plantations for economic benefits.
In this respect the government moves one more step towards Swayapurna Goa, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Ease of Doing Business. A dedicated web portal for commercial tree plantation was launched and an illustrated pictorial book titled Trees of Panjim’ by Arjun Adit, a young research scholar, was also launched by the CM on the occasion of World Environment Day. The book details 136 trees which one may presumably see in Panjim, worth acquiring if you’re a tree lover! Other things on the agenda included the release of an information brochureThe Magical Immunity Herbs’ and Certificate of Appreciation were distributed to three forest frontline staffers recognizing their services for outstanding work in the field of forest nursery management. If you’re looking for plants make it to the Campal Forest Department grounds one of these days, a large variety of plant saplings have been neatly laid out for taking away after due registration.