AURANGABAD: Students of as many as 6,175 schools in Marathwada participated in the massive plantation drive 'Maha Van Mahotsava 2015' on the occasion of Independence Day. Over 3.15 lakh students planted more than 1.25 lakh saplings in all eight districts of the region.
Praveen Srivastava, chief conservator of forests and deputy director general of the social forestry department (Marathwada), said the students not only planted the saplings but also pledged to ensure their survival till their natural life span.
"The drive was envisioned by state finance, planning and forests minister SudhirMungantiwar. Accordingly, 20 saplings were to be planted in every school in the state. The aim was to ensure their sustained survival till maturity," Srivastava said.
"Though Van Mahotsava is celebrated every year, the event was unique this time in a sense that sapling plantation was carried out simultaneously in all the schools in the state. The aim was to create an environment wherein children and students were sensitised and motivated to create, preserve and sustain green cover in their vicinity. It symbolised transfer of responsibility to the younger generation for a greener and cleaner society amid the threat of climate change looming large across the globe," he said.
"The government is planning to evaluate the plantation performance and intends to award the best performers upon completion of three years. Plantation of saplings combined with the responsibility to ensure their survival has added meaning to Van Mahotsava," Srivastava said.
State environment minister RamdasKadam, along with Aurangabad MP ChandrakantKhaire, MLA Atul Save, divisional commisionerUmakantDangat, district collector NidhiPande and municipal commissioner Prakash Mahajan were present during the event held in a civic body-run primary and secondary school in Priyadarshini Indira Nagar. The school's principal Sanjay Sonar, a team of teachers and students participated in the programme to make it successful.
During his address, Kadam said only a green Maharashtra can ensure a clean Maharashtra.
With little over 5% forest cover, deficient rainfall, degraded terrain and water scarcity, Marathwada needs green cover more urgently than other regions.
"Similar efforts undertaken every year could certainly bring huge improvement in this forest-deficit region. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be possible without active and sustained participation from every stakeholder," Srivastava added.
