NOW SANGRUR PART OF TREES FOR GUN LICENCES PLAN

SANGRUR: “Punjabis spend a lot of money on arms and cars. They can invest Rs 20 in a plant and 10 saplings will just cost Rs 200,” said Patiala divisional commissioner Chander Gaind on Monday. Rolling out the plan to plant 10 saplings for getting a gun licence that’s aimed at uniting people against deforestation, Gaind, who had launched the initiative in Patiala in July, said it would make people aware of the environment and more plants would mean increase in groundwater levels in the district.

Anyone applying for a new licence has to plant 10 saplings and five for licence renewal. He or she will be required to submit a selfie with each sapling as proof. After a month, before the application is sent for police clearance and dope test, the applicant will have to furnish fresh photographs as evidence of the health of the plants.“teams of the district administration office will randomly visit and inspect the saplings. However, we will try to use a GPS system,” said Gaind.

The commissioner said around 200 licence renewal applications were received every month in Sangrur and about 22,000 arms licenses had been issued. “If every applicant plants five saplings, we will end up with around 12,000 saplings per year. If implemented across the state, then the figure could touch 2.64 lakh annually,” he said.

Applicants not having their own land could choose public places (Educational Institutions, religious places, spots near roads) for the purpose, provided they took the responsibility for its nurturing and care.