World Environment Day: One crore saplings planted in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, June 5 (IANS) World Environment Day on Monday was a busy day for many in Kerala as a record one crore saplings were planted across the state, according to the state's Forest Minister K. Raju.

Speaking to IANS, Raju said this programme was carried out with the cooperation of Agriculture and Education ministries, several state departments, and private and other organisations.

"The Forest Department alone had supplied 72 lakh saplings and the rest came from other departments. At the state-level inauguration, presided over by Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam here, we distributed 3,000 saplings. Around 47 lakh saplings will be handed over to the school children and the rest to others," said Raju.

Raju said the easiest job was to distribute the saplings and the difficult part to tend them and see to it that each sapling became a tree.

"It's easier said than done and we have worked out programmes to ensure that there is adequate follow up and see these mature into trees and contribute to the environment. Anyway we will do our best and we have ensured that the local bodies are also brought in to see that there is a proper monitoring," said Raju.

The school children can either plant the sapling at their home or in the school and they should take care of it.

Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, while inaugurating the state-level programme here, said he had now made it a point to avoid mineral water in the Raj Bhavan as it generated too many plastic bottles.

"When it comes to trees, the need of the hour is to ensure that it is cared for and that's possible if there is ownership to it. The responsibility to tend it is important and must be taken up. The variety of the tree is also critical," said Sathasivam.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took part in the celebrations at Kozhikode and in his message he cautioned the people that what was happening today should not be just a ritual that takes place only on this day.

"It has to be taken up in a mission mode and as part of everyone's life as these things will help us to fight the ill effects of climate change. Moreover, through these we will do our bit to see that we regain the lost glory of the greenery that our state once boasted of," said Vijayan.

Each of the 14 districts witnessed numerous programmes and participation by state ministers also.

In the state capital, superstar Mohanlal took time off from his shooting and planted a banyan sapling at a popular college in the capital city suburbs.

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