Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar, at a district-level Van Mahotsava celebration held under the Hariyar Chhattisgarh scheme, planted saplings at Government Boys Higher Secondary School.
He planted saplings of Neem and Jamun to mark the occasion.
In his address, Chandrakar said that in the name of development a lot of deforestation has been taken place in the city and added that “to balance the loss, we need to participate in massive plantation drive.”
He said that in the Indian culture, trees and forests play very important role.
“It is matter of pride that a major portion of Dhamtari is covered with forest. We need to participate in the massive plantation drive,” the Minister said.
He declared that soon a garden near the Kali temple on the National Highway, named after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, would be developed as Oxyzone.
Chandrakar greeted the villagers on making the village Open Defecation Free (ODF), for taking part in insurance registration and for good response to School entry (Shala Pravesh) programme.
District Panchayat president Raghunandan Sahu has appealed the people to take part in the plantation drive every year and take responsibility of its protection.
Collector Bhim Singh said that 44 per cent area of Chhattisgarh state is covered with forest. Through ‘Van Mahotsava’ people are taking part in plantation for balancing nature. This year over 20 lakh saplings have been prepared through MNREGA.
These saplings were made available for plantation at government institutions, public places, residential areas etc, he said.
Divisional Forest Officer Vivek Acharya, while reading out the annual report, informed that ‘Van Mahotsava’ was started in 1998 with an aim of maximum plantation in non-forest areas.
This year 52-lakh saplings will be planted in the district. On the first day, one lakh saplings were planted at various places as part of the drive. Nine lakh saplings will be adopted by forest management committee. Under their care the sapling would grow, he said.