LAKKI MARWAT: Around 10,000 saplings were planted on a vast tract of land in Wanda Meer Alam locality along Chashma-Darra Tang Road here on Friday.

The district administration with support of forest department had launched the massive plantation activity under Clean and Green Pakistan campaign. Deputy commissioner Jehangir Azam Wazir inaugurated the activity.

Sub-divisional forest officer Wahdat Zeeshan Anwar and head of Marwat Qaumi Jirga, Haji Mohammad Aslam Khan were also present. On the occasion, Mr Wazir told journalists that the administration had planted 180,000 seedlings so far in different areas.

Highlighting importance of tree plantation, he said the administration would make all out efforts to increase the forest area in the district. The deputy commissioner said the reason behind community participation in campaign was to sensitise local residents to the benefits of timberlands and their vital role in protecting forests.

“Forests help mitigate losses of floods, control lad erosion and air pollution,” he said.

The sub-divisional forest officer reiterated that his department would extend all out support to the district administration to make Clean and Green Pakistan campaign a success.

He claimed that over 10 million plants had been grown in the district under Billion Tree Tsunami project.

Also, the deputy commissioner convened an open kutchery in Gandi Khankhel area to resolve people’s problems.

Local residents complained about lack of doctors and medicines in the only basic health unit in the area. They said the canals dug for sucking water from saline land had become silted while Kachkot Canal needed pavement on urgent basis to stop wastage of irrigation water. They said encroachers had occupied canals by illegal constructions thus hindering flow of water to their lands.

A villager demanded demarcation of high school’s sports ground and replacement of rusted water supply lines.

The residents demanded reduction in land tax and ban on firing in the air and playing of loud music in weddings. They also sought establishment of a bank branch at Gandi Chowk.

They deputy commissioner issued orders to the officials concerned for resolution of the problems of the residents. He directed the heads of government departments to improve service delivery.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2019