Chief Minister Raghubar Das inaugurated the Nadi Mahotsav cum Van Mahotsav on Sunday by planting saplings on the bank of Jumar River in Kanke. There is a plan to plant at least 8.25 lakh saplings covering a total stretch of 244 kilometres at 64 places of 44 river banks across the State during the month long programme which concludes on August 6.
Das appealed to the citizens of the State to plant at least one sapling each under this drive. Praising the efforts of forest department and common people he said, "It is the result of your efforts that there has been an increase of 0.29 percent in the forest area of the State since 2014. It is once again time for you to plant saplings and nurture them so they become trees. Forest, water, land and environment are our rights and conserving them is our duty. Help the government to ensure that Jharkhand lives up to its name.”
The CM said that at least one lakh samplings of Karam tree would be planted on the occasion of tribal festivals of Karma and Sarhul. "Last year 60,000 Karam trees were planted. The reason behind this is because the two festivals are worship of nature and are connected deeply with our culture," he said.
Das said that special attention will be paid in conservation of environment in every developmental work taken up by the government. "We all know that if there are no trees there would be no rain and thus no crop. This is the reason to work towards management of land, soil, plants, water and fauna so that the present as well as the coming generation does not face problems. The government will work according to this idea and the same is expected by the citizens of the State," he said.
Focusing on water conservation the CM pointed out that considering the water crisis in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constituted the Jal Shakti Ministry so that work can be done towards water conservation. "The country and the State is facing a severe crisis in form of polluted water which is leading to increase in infant and maternal mortality rates. The Water Management Programme would play a positive role in preventing this," he said.
Chief Secretary DK Tiwari said on the occasion that the meaning of development is now changing. "Making big buildings is not considered development anymore. Development along with conservation of nature is the real development," he said.