Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Jul 1: Forest department and Mangaluru city corporation jointly organized planting of saplings under 'Koti Vruksha andolan', a programme to plant one crore sapling at Ladyhill, Urwa in city on July 1.

Forest and ecology minister and district in-charge minister B Ramanatha Rai flagged off the drive by planting a sapling.

Addressing the gathering Rai stressed on the need to plant more saplings and to conserve forest and said “Conserving forests and planting saplings is the need of time as they help us in many ways like bringing rains and keeping the temperature under control. The state had witnessed severe water crisis This summer. The main reason is destruction of forest and in this direction we need plant and protect the nature. Steps have been also taken to clear encroached forest land."

"The forest department has launched this programme to plant one crore saplings across the state. This drive will be undertaken till July 10. New programmes of the state government 'Green School' (Hasiru Shale), 'Green Village' (Hasiru Grama), 'Bring back lakes' have been contributing towards conservation of environment"

Mangaluru south MLA J R Lobo, MCC mayor Harinath, deputy mayor Sumithra Kariya, Shashidar Hegde, Vishwas Das and others were present.