Punjab Expands Green Cover; Mann Government Prioritizing Environmental Protection

November 27, 2025

Punjab Desk: The Aam Aadmi Party-led Mann Government has made environmental conservation one of its core missions in Punjab. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the state has achieved historic progress in increasing greenery during the last two years. In the year 2023–24, the government planted a record 12 million (1.2 crore) saplings, and has set a target of planting 30 million (3 crore) saplings in 2024–25.

This campaign has now transformed into a public movement, with active participation from villages, schools, religious institutions, and urban communities turning the vision of “Har Ghar Bagicha” (Garden in Every Home) into reality.

This initiative was crucial because Punjab’s forest cover has been declining steadily for the past two decades. According to a report by the Government of India, between 2001 and 2023, Punjab’s forest area fell from 4.80% to 3.67%, and tree cover dropped from 3.20% to 2.92%. In total, Punjab lost 1.13% forest cover and 0.28% tree cover in 22 years. This clearly indicates the failure of previous Congress and Akali Dal governments to protect the environment.

Campaigns like the “Greening Punjab Mission” remained limited to paperwork with no real impact. The Akali government claimed in 2012 that it would plant 40 crore saplings by 2020 with an expenditure of ₹1900 crore, but in reality only 5 crore saplings were planted and only 25– 30% survived.

The mission exposed the lack of intent and rampant corruption in previous administrations, where plantation drives were turned into publicity and contract scams, with no monitoring or maintenance system in place. During the same period, indiscriminate felling of trees weakened Punjab’s ecological stability. Between 2010 and 2020, nearly 8–9 lakh trees were cut in the name of development projects.

In 2013–14, 2 lakh trees were felled; in 2014–15, 2.12 lakh; and in 2010–11, 1.50 lakh trees. Under the Congress regime, the situation worsened when then Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot was arrested for a major forest scam. As per vigilance reports, he allegedly charged ₹500 per felled khair tree and collected ₹10–20 lakh in bribes for officer transfers.

This reflects how previous governments allowed corruption to destroy Punjab’s greenery. In contrast, the Mann Government reformed the entire system and introduced the Tree Preservation Policy 2024, ensuring legal protection for trees even on non-forest and government land. Under the policy, no tree can be cut without permission, and compensatory afforestation has been made mandatory for all development projects.

In 2023–24, plantation was carried out over 940.384 hectares, demonstrating concrete progress in environmental restoration. The impact of these initiatives is now clearly visible. According to the Forest Survey of India Report 2023, Punjab recorded an increase of 177.22 sq km in tree cover  the largest rise in the last 15 years.

This achievement shows that under Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, every citizen is becoming a partner in environmental protection. Punjab is moving towards a model where development and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. The Mann Government has also aligned its initiatives with religious and cultural heritage.

Inspired by Gurbani’s teachings “Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat”, schemes such as ‘Nanak Bagichi’ and ‘Sacred Forests’ have been introduced. So far, 105 Nanak Gardens and 268 Sacred Forests have been established, acting as green lungs for cities and increasing oxygen supply.

Under the Punjab Hariyali Lehar, 2.899 million (28.99 lakh) saplings have been planted around 3.95 lakh tube wells, making farmers active contributors to this green revolution. On the global front, the Punjab Government has partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on a 792.88 crore project to increase the state’s forest area to 7.5% by 2030.

Implemented over five years starting 2025–26, the project will not only expand greenery but also provide employment opportunities for thousands of youth. These initiatives have positioned Punjab as a leading state in environmental protection across India. Today, Punjab is witnessing a new green revolution. Trees lost due to negligence in previous administrations are gaining life again.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s message “Trees are the lungs of Punjab; protecting them is the duty of every citizen” has now become a collective public commitment. The greenery destroyed by the corrupt policies of Congress and Akali Dal governments has been revived by the responsible and honest governance of the Aam Aadmi Party. Punjab is becoming self-reliant not only in agriculture but also in environmental sustainability a truly green, vibrant, and progressive Punjab.