CHANDIGARH: In a rare gesture of its kind, the Industries and Environment Minister Vipul Goel on Wednesday convinced a woman sarpanch of village Chautala to lift her veil (ghunghat). This happened during minister's tour to Sirsa district to promote tree plantation drive to achieve the target of planting 2.5 crore saplings in the state.
According to information, when the woman sarpanch came to welcome the Minister, he said that she had been elected by the people of village as sarpanch to work for the development of the village for which she would have to meet with administrative secretaries and other dignitaries. "The State Government had given chance to educated women to hold the post of sarpanches in villages. Therefore, there is no need of veil as everyone around them is like their parents,'' he said consequently the women removed the veil During the day, Goel who launched the plantation drives at various places in district said that trees play significant role in maintaining natural balance and keeping the environment clean.
They are also symbol of our religious faith, therefore every person should plant trees. Goel was addressing a huge gathering after planting trees under 'Harit Haryana Campaign' at village Alika in district Sirsa today. He also inaugurated the plantation campaign from Dera Sacha Sauda. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan was also present on this occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that our state and the country had progressed a lot, but this progress had been causing burden on our natural resources.
Today temperature has been rising due to shortage of forest cover and the entire world is concerned about it. "We should stop playing with our natural resources and should take more steps towards protection of forests", he added. He said that provision has been made in National Forest Policy that one third of entire geographical area would remain covered with forests and trees. According to the scientists, the forest area of plain areas should be 20 per cent of the total geographical area.
He said that trees and forest covered area in Haryana was 6.69 per cent and efforts were being made to further increase it. He said that high quality plants were being provided to farmers to increase agro-forestry in the state. Goel also inaugurated mini stadiums in village Mattadadu, Rasliya Khera, Banwala and Ahmed Daraywala and water works in Ramgarh. He also laid foundation stones of Mini stadium and chowk in village Bijuwali, chowk in BPhotos for the Gaddi community leaders protesting near Dal Lake on Wednesday .
