The Act will be applicable to all urban areas of Punjab.

Punjab Govt Develops 8 Forest & Nature Awareness Parks to Increase Green Cover

Under the Greening Punjab Mission, the state government is developing eight Forest & Nature Awareness Parks. The objective of the mission is to enhance forest cover across Punjab and ensure a clean and green environment for future generations. Out of these, four parks are being set up in Pathankot, two in Patiala, and one each in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur.

Under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Mr Lal Chand Kataruchak, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department is executing these projects on a priority basis to ensure their timely completion. In Pathankot district, environment parks are being developed at Village Gharota (0.50 hectare), Kataruchak (0.75 hectare), Panchayat land at Haibat Pindi (0.60 hectare) and ITI Bamiyal. Similarly, two environment parks are under development in Patiala, including one at Baron Minor. In Amritsar, an environment park is coming up at Village Jagdev Kalan Pul, while a Van Chetna Park is being set up at Bassi Purani in Hoshiarpur.

Regarding the Haibat Pind park, construction work on the nature trail using interlocking tiles is complete, and work on installing play equipment and open-air shelters (gazebos) is currently in progress. At Gharota also, the work of the nature trail with interlocking tiles is complete, and the installation of play equipment and gazebos is underway. In Village Kataruchak, work on laying the interlocking tile nature trail and installing play equipment is progressing at a fast pace.

The State Government has been consistently focusing on maximising green cover and implementing measures to safeguard the environment for future generations. The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department, Punjab, is in the process of drafting The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2025. The proposed legislation aims to preserve green cover, maintain ecological balance, prevent environmental pollution, and conserve soil.

The Act will be applicable to all urban areas of Punjab. It will cover the jurisdictional limits of Nagar Councils, Municipal Corporations, Notified Area Committees, Town Area Committees, and Urban Development Authorities or Bodies. The Act also provides for the appointment of a Tree Officer, defined as an Executive Officer in the urban local bodies of Punjab or any other officer notified by the State Government.