Saplings, speeches and a commitment

Saplings, speeches and a commitment

Deccan Herald


The World Environment Day was observed with great vigour across the City and was marked by rallies, nature conservation talks and initiatives to plant saplings.

In the programme organised jointly by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in Bangalore on Sunday, Chief Minister Dharam Singh said the development of a city must never be carried out at the cost of destroying nature.

But despite repeated efforts at afforestation like the planting of 14 lakh saplings in Gulburga after construction of outer rings roads, there have been instances where forest area had to be utilised to accommodate developments in City, he added.


“Nearly 168 acres of forest land had to be used for the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project,” said Mr Singh.

Governor T N Chaturvedi, who spoke on the occasion, urged the government and the public to work together at creating an equilibrium between man and nature. A sustained effort at improving the environment should be undertaken quickly, he added.

Meanwhile, Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will plant 50,000 saplings across the City this year, said Mayor R Narayanaswamy at the inauguration of World Environment Day organised by BMP.

He also called upon the citizens to launch a green revolution to control increasing pollution levels in the City.

In another function, Basavanagudi MLA K Chandrashekhar planted saplings near the Indoor Stadium and kick-started the initiative of planting 25,000 saplings in six wards.

The global event was also celebrated in true Vanamahotsava style by Sri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain College who planted several saplings in the 3-km stretch between Bannerghattta Road and Gottigare. Hundreds of stickers and posters with messages like ‘Let’s paint the City green’ were distributed among the public.

A rally was organised by various business houses in the hospitality industry. This nature-awareness campaign started at Airport Road and culminated at Race Course Road.

Five persons were also conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Environmental Award of the State government on the occasion of World Environment Day.