CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 3: Punjab Government has decided to now induct common people as ‘Greenery Saviours’ to further strengthen its drive to preserve and maintain environment in state. Towards this aim, the state Forest Department has decided a dedicated application ‘I Rakhwali’, downloading which people can become a part of this mission to save environment from degradation.
Disclosing this, Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharmsot said the application has been developed to ensure greenery and to protect environment, and its main aim was to inspire people to plant more trees. At that time, people did not know about various nurseries of department and the procedure how to obtain plant saplings. With launch of this app, people have got to know about geographical location of these nurseries and have easy access to free plants and saplings.
The Minister further said that on these lines ‘i Rakhwali’ app is being launched under which department would motivate people to save environment and seek their cooperation. In today’s time, forests are fast depleting and trees are being felled to make way for different development projects. Many people think and are concerned about this and want to do something about this but in absence of information cannot do much, he added. We have come up with this app to encourage people to come forward and contribute towards environment protection, the Minister added.
The aim of this initiative is to safeguard state forest area by making people a stakeholder in this process. He said anyone can report illegal felling of tress, any damage to forests, as common man have first hand information of these incidents. “In such cases any citizen can download the I Rakhwali App and bring the matter to the notice of the concerned Forest Divisional Officer and contribute to protect the greenery of Punjab.
Explaining the working of the App, the Minister said it is very easy to operate. The application can be downloaded from Google App Store or App Store, and mobile number can be used to log in. There is a list of damages one wish to report and after logging in the user can select accordingly, besides photos can also be uploaded about the damages to be reported. A video up-to 20 seconds can also be uploaded. Users can use speaking mode to record their messages as well. This information will reach concerned DFO/District Official and department would act on it immediately. Complainant is regularly updated about action on his or her complaint.
