In a significant move to overhaul the state's afforestation drives, Haryana's Forest and Environment Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, issued a series of directives on Monday aimed at injecting greater transparency and accountability into the system. The minister has ordered the integration of the entire tender process for plantation and its subsequent maintenance with the Haryana Engineering Works Portal.
Ending Monopoly, Ensuring Worker Welfare
Presiding over a review meeting with department officials in Chandigarh, Minister Rao Narbir Singh made it unequivocally clear that the traditional monopoly of District Forest Officers (DFOs) in the tender awarding process will no longer be permitted. A new, transparent system is to be implemented. He emphasized that the survival of planted trees is paramount, directing that maintenance must be an integral part of the tender from the outset, once the saplings are ready.
Furthermore, the minister mandated regular monitoring to ensure contractors fulfill their social security obligations. Contractors will be required to deposit Employees' State Insurance (ESI) contributions for labourers every month, a measure designed to safeguard the interests and welfare of the workers involved in these projects.
Strategic Focus on Canal Banks and Land Clearance
During the meeting, officials informed the minister that the state forest department operates 87 ranges and that current plantation tenders are awarded for a five-year period. To maximize green cover, Singh directed that extensive plantation be carried out on both banks of canals across Haryana.
For this purpose, he instructed officials to conduct a joint measurement of authorized land along canals with the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. Any encroachments found on these lands are to be removed promptly, and the cleared areas should then be utilized for large-scale plantation activities.
Budget for Nurseries and Fixed Responsibilities
Looking at long-term sustainability, the minister revealed that the government is considering a proposal to allocate a separate budget for nurseries. The overarching goal is to ensure maximum plantation each year on panchayat lands and other government department properties under various central and state schemes.
A critical component of this strategy is to fix clear and unambiguous responsibility for the maintenance of the planted saplings, ensuring that survival rates improve and the state's green mission yields tangible results. This holistic approach, linking procurement, execution, and care through a transparent digital portal, marks a new chapter in Haryana's environmental governance.
