Trees to be geotagged to track survival

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 30

To ensure the survival of saplings, all trees to be planted in and around industrial areas will be geotagged.

According to directions from Kahan Singh Pannu, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, plant trees in and around industries would be geotagged.

He said this during a meeting with industrialists here recently. He said the trees would now be geotagged to track their survival online. The board would keep an eye on these through satellite imagery. Pannu further said an official would also be deputed to oversee the geotagging of trees.

Narinder Bhamra, CEO, Ludhiana Effluent Treatment Society, said, it was a welcome step. “We surely will assist in geotagging to track the survival of trees, because in many cases trees are planted for photo opportunities and nobody looks after their survival,” he added.

“Trees are planted in factories, but this time we will ensure that trees are also planted along boundaries of factory units,” he said. He said geotagging would ensure the tracking of the development and growth of the trees. In fact, the industry already has a mechanism for audit of the products developed and having the audit system in place, they would also trace the development of the trees as well.

Dr Brijmohan Bhardwaj, an expert, who carried out an online study of the tree cover, said it could be a good initiative if it was part of a long-term policy. He further said it it would not be possible to track the saplings online until around three years. In fact, not just the newly planted, even the existing tree cover must be geotagged to see that these trees were not cut arbitrarily.

We surely will assist in geotagging to track the survival of trees because in many cases, trees are planted for photo opportunities and nobody looks after their survival. We will make sure that the trees survive. Trees are planted in factories, but this time we will make sure that trees are also planted along their boundaries. —Narinder Bhamra, CEO, Ludhiana Effluent Treatment Society

It can be a good initiative if it is part of a long-term policy because it will not be possible to track the saplings online. In fact, not just the newly-planted saplings, the existing tree cover must be geotagged to see that these are not cut arbitrarily. —Dr Brijmohan Bhardwaj, who carried out an online study of the tree cover