He said this was necessary in view of growing air pollution resulting from the emission of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon particulates.

Population growth, commercial activities and congestion on city roads, too, call for this step so people can breathe fresh air. According to him, development projects leaving little leeway for greening anywhere have led to the current disastrous situation. He alluded also to encroachment on green areas, logging, the putting up of billboards, digging of trenches and drains and the laying of pipelines near the roots of trees as being contributory factors. The programme aims at:

n Establishing an institutional framework for integrating the greening efforts of diverse agencies;

n Making contacts with residents and elected representatives of local bodies for planning tree-planting and related activities;

n Consultation and consensus ahead of any investment;

n Mass awareness campaigns;

n Identifying the existing assets to determine their adequacy, or otherwise, and the scope for enhancement, modification and improvement;

n Finding agencies capable of greening activities.

Last year, the forest department distributed about 100,000 saplings with the help of non-government organisations, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority and such government departments as public works and transport. The forest department’s additional chief secretary, Mr Asoke Patnaik, said: “We are planning a tree helpline to stop logging and to help people interested in greening Kolkata.’’ Schools, colleges and hospitals will be urged to let the social forestry wing give them a green look. He spoke also of planting ornamental, pollution-resistant trees and fruit trees along the city’s avenues and medium-size perennials and shrubs by boulevards and within traffic islands.