Puducherry Government will soon be launching the Green Puducherry Mission vision document

The Puducherry Government will shortly release the 'Green Puducherry Mission' vision document, with the goal of enhancing the Union Territory's green cover over the next five years. The Department of Science, Technology, and Environment (DSTE) is preparing the vision document, and a task group will oversee its phased implementation throughout the Union Territory until 2028. The paper is slated to be released in July, and sapling planting with the participation of various sectors, public and private organisations, and people is planned to begin in August this year. 

"The long-term vision document will formulate ways through which Puducherry can achieve its tree-cover," says A. Muthamma, Secretary to Government (Transport, Labour, Science, Technology, and Environment). The Mission envisions a comprehensive approach to greening and will focus on a variety of areas such as urban spaces such as parks, avenue plantations, homes, government and temple properties, and those owned by local governments."

"The Union Territory has very little tree and forest cover, and the goal is to increase it to the ideal or national average." The DSTE is working on several types of plantations, planting site specifics, and stakeholders, including public and private organisations, who may be part in this programme." 

"The government is committed to increasing green cover, and the Department has already sent a communication to all line departments, municipalities, and commune panchayat to identify planting locations," Ms Muthamma added. The Lieutenant Governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan, and Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, are both enthusiastic about this programme, which is patterned after Telangana's Green Mission."

The Department of Science, Technology, and Environment has also sought Pondicherry University for technical assistance in identifying unoccupied places using Google Earth. The Mission would be highly detailed and would guarantee that the underlying objectives were met during the following five years. 

According to official sources, only native plant species will be employed in the greening programme. Fruit-bearing trees have been recommended for families and educational institutions, while floral trees are planned for avenue plantations. Specific species have been identified for plantation, and the Department plans to plant around 5 lakh seedlings as part of the Mission.