CHGANDIGARH, MAY 14 (CI Bureau): The Punjab government under ‘Greener Punjab Mission’ would enhance forest cover in the state from existing 7 percent to 15 percent. Disclosing this here today Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani, Forest and Wild Life Security Minister, Punjab said that under this mission, 4.75 crore saplings are purposed to be plant each year in the state. This mission would continue uptill 8 years. He said that the department would plant/distribute 475 lac saplings for an estimated area of 20,000 hectare with the investment of Rs.122.42 crore in the financial year 2013-14. The area of nurseries established for cloned plants of Popular would also be extended up to an area of 300 hectare. Mr. Jyani further said that during the financial year 2012-13, department has reorganized the forest beats in the state with the motive to bring more and more villages under their jurisdiction. He said that the department has conducted survey in the 9000 villages of the state to assess the availability of free land holdings belonging to various department and village panchyat, where plantation drive could be started. ‘To ensure the smooth working of the department, 407 forest guards have recently been recruited,” the Minister added. He said that during the years 2012-13 the department has got planted 1.32 crore saplings through various other departments. He added that in the same year the department has distributed/planted 463 lac saplings, which were produced in the 252 nurseries of the state.