Saturday, 17 July 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that environmental conservation is a collective responsibility of the whole community. Stating that tree plantation should not be limited to a government programme, he said that those who meet the chief minister should present saplings instead of bouquets. The chief minister said this in one of the events where he planted a sapling on the occasion of Harela on Friday.
Speaking at a programme at the MDDA city park near the Sahastradhara helipad, Dhami said that Harela is a festival of prosperity, greenery and environmental conservation. Stating that tree plantation should not remain restricted to a government programme alone, he said that awareness should be raised to make this a programme of the people. Along with plantation, he also stressed on the need for special focus on protection of the trees. He exhorted the people to make a resolve for widespread tree plantation. Dhami said, “Our ancestors made many commendable efforts for conservation and enrichment of the environment. We will have to make consistent efforts so that the future generations get a green Uttarakhand.” Expressing concern at drying water sources, the chief minister said that efforts will have to be undertaken for revival of water sources.
Speaking on the occasion, the Forest and Environment minister Harak Singh Rawat said that the government is making various efforts for environmental balance. He said that it is a collective responsibility to ensure that balanced development is achieved in Uttarakhand. Stating that nature corrects the wrongs in different ways, the minister said that the repercussions of tampering with nature are now in front of everyone.
Additional chief secretary Anand Bardhan, principal chief conservator of forests Rajiv Bhartari, additional PCCF Jyotsna Sitling and other officials concerned were also present on the occasion.
The CM also participated in a tree plantation programme at the State Disaster Response Force battalion campus in Jolly Grant. Stating that convenience in human life has risen along with developments in science, he stressed that maximum tree plantation is vital for environmental balance. He said that concern for environmental conservation had increased across the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also appreciated the works done by the Uttarakhand police during the pandemic.
Health and Disaster Management minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that large scale tree plantation is being undertaken across the state to mark Harela. He also appreciated the work being done by SDRF in the state.Director general of police Ashok Kumar informed that the police have set a target of planting one lakh saplings in the state this year. Since June 5, the police have planted more than 90,000 saplings, he said.
