Ludhiana: Green colleges, universities, corridors to be built along roads

LUDHIANA: Colleges and universities in the district will have green campuses and green corridors on both sides of roads and highways. This and more is coming up under the “Awaken Ludhiana for a Livable Tomorrow” initiative that aims to transform Punjab’s industrial and financial capital into a green, sustainable and climate-resilient city. The development assumes significance as Ludhiana is among the 20 most polluted cities in the country. In a latest study, it was counted among the 20 most polluted cities in the country. A brainchild of deputy commissioner Sakshi Sahni, this ambitious and holistic initiative has gained wings with the planting of a record 1.87 lakh saplings during a one-day tree plantation drive launched by chief secretary Anurag Verma on Friday. A total of 15 lakh saplings will be planted in the district this monsoon.

Sakshi, who is also holding the charge of municipal commissioner and chief administrator of GLADA, told The Tribune on Saturday that the scheme aims to promote green campuses and raise environmental awareness among students. “Moving towards a green campus, this initiative will ensure 20 per cent green cover in all college/university campuses by implementing vertical gardening and landscaping to meet the target,” he said. Sakshi said the green committee being constituted will identify areas for greening, ensure fulfilment of planting targets and plan future green cover expansion. It will involve students and faculty members of the college/universities and hold regular meetings to implement plans for increasing green cover and other projects related to environmental sustainability. “The administration will also launch a green internship programme for students to actively participate in green initiatives,” he announced. The DC said the agriculture and forest departments will be involved to promote urban forestry and sustainable agricultural practices. The plantation scheme will work to ensure “3 trees per tubewell” with separate tracking and monitoring.

This will promote greenery along urban roads, thereby reducing urban heat islands, he informed. The administration will also implement the “Guru Nanak Bagichi” urban forestry scheme to ensure community participation. Under this, the departments will coordinate with each other to identify suitable areas within the district to establish micro urban forests and increase green canopy cover. Construction departments such as PWD, NHAI, GLADA and Improvement Trust will integrate greenery into infrastructure projects. “To develop green corridors, we will ensure that all roads, bridges and roadsides have mandatory greenery through vertical greenery corridors,” Sakshi said. Vacant spaces will be identified and miniature gardens and vertical parks will be developed along the roads, he said. Seeking community participation, the administration has announced to support self-help groups (SHGs) making green products and coordinate green initiatives. “We will identify and market SHGs making green products and coordinate with other departments to implement the Guru Nanak Bagichi scheme,” he said. Engaging industries for a sustainable future, the programme will encourage industries to adopt green practices and support the initiative.

Under the scheme, industries will conduct self-audits on their environmental practices and get recognition from the district administration. “Citizens will be motivated to plant at least three trees in their vicinity or adopt vertical gardening,” the DC-cum-MC chief said while making the announcement. He added that a Tree ATM will be operated with the help of local NGOs from where people will be able to order trees for free. Religious institutions will also join the initiative by offering saplings as “boota prasad” to devotees, thereby promoting tree plantation as a community practice. For this purpose, religious leaders will be helped in distributing saplings and promoting environmental conservation.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Green Dashboard, an online platform, will track and display the progress of all green initiatives, which will be accessible to the public for transparency. Information on number of trees planted, solar power generation, water harvesting systems installed, changes in e-office and green cover will be updated regularly.

Review Mechanism
Monthly review meetings will be held with the Green City Task Force and quarterly progress reports will be shared with stakeholders and the public. A comprehensive annual evaluation will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the initiatives and make necessary adjustments.

Partnerships and Financing
NGOs and academic institutions will collaborate for technical support and volunteer mobilization. CSR programs will be engaged for funding and expertise in implementing green technologies. Financing through government grants and community-based crowdfunding