Chandigarh, June 12
The Haryana health department has directed all government hospitals and health institutions across the state to undertake a large-scale plantation drive ahead of the monsoon season as part of efforts to improve green cover and create healthier public spaces.
Officials said all districts have been instructed to plant at least 1,000 saplings during the campaign. The initiative will focus on indigenous shade-bearing and ornamental tree species suited to local conditions.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sumita Misra, said the monsoon season offers favourable conditions for plantation activities because saplings have a higher survival rate during this period.
She said health institutions had been advised to prioritise perennial indigenous varieties that can provide dense canopy cover and improve the overall environment of hospital campuses.
According to the department, the plantation drive aims to create cleaner, more comfortable surroundings for patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. Officials said increased greenery around hospitals can help reduce local temperatures, improve air quality, and support ecological balance.
The health department has also asked district health authorities to coordinate with local administrations and horticulture departments to ensure the plantation campaign is carried out effectively.
Misra said greener healthcare campuses could contribute positively to public health by reducing heat stress and making medical institutions more patient-friendly.
District authorities have been directed to give priority to the plantation programme and submit compliance reports after completion of the drive. The department will monitor implementation across the state to ensure plantation targets are achieved.
