The Trinamool-run civic board in Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) launched a joint afforestation programme in association with the state forest department on Monday on the banks of the Mahananda river.

Gautam Deb, the mayor, said the drive has been launched to reduce pollution in Siliguri and also to increase the green cover in and around the city.

“We launched the drive today and it will continue in the coming days. We have also involved Credai (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India) to carry out the task,” said Deb, as he joined a plantation programme on the left
bank of Mahananda near Surya Sen Park.

He mentioned that SMC has identified a one-hectare plot near the park where 2,000 saplings of jarul (Queen’s Flower), sishu (Dalbergia Sissoo) and mahogany trees were planted today.

“Similar initiatives will be taken in other areas of the city in due course,” said
M. Raja, the divisional forest officer of Baikunthapur forest division.

In Siliguri, environmentalists have time and again expressed concern over the depleting green cover in and around the city due to rapid urbanisation. They have also mentioned that on many occasions, the AQI of Siliguri had hinted that the air pollution is higher in the city.

On Monday, the AQI in Siliguri was 60, considered moderate, with a
substantial presence of PM (particulate matter).

“We welcome SMC’s initiative and hope more and more trees will be planted across Siliguri and in the surroundings,” said Animesh Bose, who has been working on nature conservation for years.

The representatives of Credai said they will stand in support of the civic body.

“We joined in today’s plantation programme organised by SMC. Simultaneously, we, on our own, are also carrying our plantation drives to confirm that there is adequate greenery in and around Siliguri,” said Naresh Agarwal, the vice president of Credai’s state committee.