Pipeline network to supply treated water to 170 parks in city, support 51k new saplings

Gurgaon: Haryana on Friday launched a project to supply treated wastewater to 170 parks across the city, aiming to improve irrigation for urban green cover and support the plantation of more than 51,000 saplings planned in the city this year under state afforestation schemes.The project, unveiled during the state’s World Environment Day celebrations, involves laying a pipeline network to provide treated wastewater for irrigation of parks and green areas. Officials said the initiative would ensure a reliable water source for plantations while reducing dependence on freshwater and groundwater.The project assumes significance as the state seeks to improve the survival of saplings planted during annual plantation drives. Earlier this year, the Haryana govt said sapling survival rates were around 30% and announced a five-year maintenance model for plantations to raise survival rates to 90%. Officials have cited inadequate watering and post-plantation care as key reasons for poor survival.With 51,000 saplings planned in Gurgaon and nearly 1.6 lakh in Faridabad this year, forest officials said ensuring adequate irrigation would be critical, particularly during the summer months when young plants are most vulnerable. The use of treated wastewater is expected to address this challenge faced by plantation programmes, officials added.Union housing and urban affairs and power minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the project during the state-level World Environment Day function attended by Haryana forest, environment and wildlife minister Rao Narbir Singh, Gurgaon MLA Mukesh Sharma and senior officials.Addressing the gathering, Khattar said environmental protection could not be limited to plantation drives alone and urged citizens to take responsibility for ensuring the survival of the trees they plant. He also stressed the need to address pollution through waste segregation, recycling, reduced plastic consumption and the adoption of clean energy.Rao Narbir Singh said environmental conservation is a collective responsibility and called on residents to participate in plantation drives and support the Prime Minister’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign by planting and nurturing trees.Forest officials said plantation activities would be intensified across Gurgaon and neighbouring districts during the monsoon season. Gurgaon DFO said emphasis will be placed on reducing plastic use and ensuring that planted saplings mature into trees through sustained public participation and awareness.Besides the treated wastewater project, Khattar inaugurated a bioremediation pilot project at the Dhankot legacy waste site and laid the foundation stone for a material recovery facility in Sector 109.