India, June 29 -- Come monsoon and the tricity wakes up to tree plantation drives. Every year, government and private organisations undertake initiatives to improve the tricity's green cover, but the outcome of previous campaigns is seldom assessed. A successful drive doesn't end with planting saplings, rather it begins with it. Tracking progress through monitoring and maintenance are just as important to improve the survival rate as holding the drive itself. The Chandigarh administration has pledged to plant five lakh saplings during Van Mahotsav-2025 and has launched the Van Vibhag Aap Ke Dwar campaign, aimed at delivering saplings to residents' doorsteps. Under the initiative, three vehicles will traverse the city, encouraging citizens to participate in the green drive by distributing up to five saplings a person free of cost, with more on offer based on space availability. Saurabh Kumar, chief conservator of forests, Chandigarh administration, says, "We have instructed the departments concerned to ensure proper care of the planted trees, as their survival is crucial. At present, the survival rate ranges between 50% and 60%. Over the past seven years, the city's green cover has increased by 9%." The Greening Chandigarh Action Plan also outlines steps for tree felling and pruning to generate awareness. The UT forest department plans to launch the 'Plant a tree and track its growth story through a QR code' to encourage school and college students to take ownership of the saplings. Of the 5 lakh new saplings this season, 20,000 will be planted by students, who will get a certificate with a unique QR code. The students can check the growth status of the sapling they plant on a portal designed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Chandigarh. The QR code will have all details of the plant, including species, its scientific name, the tree family it belongs to, country of origin, flowering and fruiting times, botanical and common names, health or medicinal benefits, and economic relevance. In Mohali, the forest department has set an ambitious target of planting 11 lakh saplings in the district during Van Mahotsav. This year, the emphasis is on planting trees on government land, with specific targets allocated to each department to ensure widespread participation and accountability. In Panchkula, the forest department has readied 20 lakh saplings in nurseries across the district for this year's campaign. Though the intent is encouraging, the success of the green campaign is determined by collective responsibility. Local residents must take ownership for the sustainability of the drive....