Punjab launches 8 Forest & Nature Awareness Parks under CM Bhagwant Mann’s govt, boosting green cover and environmental protection across key districts.
Under the direction of Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, the Forests and Wildlife Preservation Department launched a number of ground-breaking projects in 2025 with the goal of guaranteeing the expansion of the State’s forest cover and leaving a clean and green environment for future generations.
The creation of eight Forest & Nature Awareness Parks is one of the innovative initiatives. Under the Greening Punjab Mission, four of these parks are being created in Pathankot, two in Patiala, and one each in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur.
Under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department is working feverishly to see these projects through to completion. Village Gharota (0.50 Hectare), Kataruchak (0.75 Hectare), Panchayat land at Haibat Pindi (0.60 Hectare), and ITI Bamiyal are the locations of the upcoming Environment Parks in Pathankot. Similarly, Patiala’s environment parks are currently being created in two locations, namely Baron Minor. While a Van Chetna Park is being built at Bassi Purani in Hoshiarpur, an environment park is being developed at the village of Jagdev Kalan Pul in Amritsar.
Regarding the park in Haibat Pind, the installation of play equipment and the open-air shelters (Gazebo) is still in progress, but the nature trail with interlocking tiles has been finished. The building of play equipment and outdoor shelters (Gazebo) is presently in progress at Gharota, where the nature trail with interlocking tiles has been finished. The installation of the play equipment and the nature walk with interlocking tiles in Village Kataruchak is proceeding at a very quick speed.
The State Government has made a sincere effort to guarantee the greatest amount of green space and to take action to save the environment for future generations. To this end, the Punjab Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department established ‘The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2025’ with the intention of preserving green cover, maintaining ecological balance, and avoiding environmental contamination in addition to soil conservation.
All of Punjab’s cities would be covered by the Act. The boundaries of a Nagar Council, Municipal Corporation, Notified Area Committee, Town Area Committee, or any other Urban Development Authority/Body are determined by the statute. A Tree Officer, which is an Executive Officer in Punjab’s urban local bodies, or any other officer designated by the State Government, is another feature. In addition, the Chhatbir Zoo’s fencing project was finished at a cost of Rs. 1.33 crores, and in addition to beautifying the area, facilities were upgraded.