People from different sections of the society, including schoolchildren, with 130 Environment Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army in the lead, planted over one lakh plants in just 20 minutes in Vin block of Pithoragarh to mark the World Environment Day on Friday.
Encouraged with the huge volume of plantation, the 130 Environment Infantry Battalion officials are now planning to get this achievement registered in the limca Book of Records.
Uttarakhand chief secretary N Ravishankar inaugurated the plantation drive at Vin block’s Igyardevi Toli village by planting a Guava plant.
Speaking on the occasion, he lauded the plantation efforts made by so many people, particularly school children and youths. More so, he appreciated the efforts of 130 Infantry Environment Battalion’s role in facilitating the plantation drive.
Urging the people to join hands for protection of environment, Ravishankar said that pollution is a major challenge for the survival of mankind presently.
“We can fight against it through large scale plantation drive,” he said, adding that it must be seen by all that these saplings grow into trees and trees, in general, are protected. Brigadier KP Singh of the Army Headquarters, lucknow, also stressed on more plantation in hilly regions of Pithoragarh and protection of the trees for conservation of environment.
District magistrate, Pithoragarh, Shushil Kumar Sharma also echoed the same thought, saying that such a drive was the best way to observe World Environment Day.
He further assured that such drives would be launched in the district in the coming days.
After the plantation drive was over, Colonel Nandud Kumar of 130 Infantry Battalion said the information about the massive plantation drive would figure in limca Book of Records.