Ludhiana, July 6 -- A drive to regenerate the Mattewara Forest gathered pace on Monday with the launch of the Van Mahotsav plantation campaign and the planting of indigenous saplings. Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal inaugurated the initiative, under which around 4,000 saplings were earmarked for restoring vacant stretches of the forest.

The plantation drive, organised by the Public Action Committee (PAC), includes indigenous and herbal species such as jamun, neem, baheda, pilkhan and moringa.

PAC leader Colonel CM Lakhanpal said the organisation has been working towards the development of the Mattewara Forest for the past four years. He said 975 acres of GLADA land have been handed over to the Forest Department, where nearly 1,000...