Vanamahotsava and World Environment Day observed in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 11: The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), the Forest Department, and the Public Instruction Department jointly celebrated World Environment Day and Vanamahotsava at Nehru Maidan on July 11 Monday at 9:00 a.m. 

District-in-charge Minister Krishna J. Palemar, Deputy Speaker N. Yogish Bhat, MCC Commissioner Dr. K. N. Vijayaprakash, ZP President K. T. Shailaja Bhat, and many others planted saplings on the occasion.

 

 

 

Mr. Palemar inaugurated the formal state function at Town Hall and said in his inaugural address that 2 lakh trees will be planted in Mangalore and its surrounding regions this year to make the city greener. 

Urging the people of Mangalore to worship the environment and preserve nature, he said that the MCC must encourage people to plant at least one sapling in their homes and give licenses to people to construct houses. He urged children to create awareness among the public to protect and preserve the environment, especially creatures that are on the verge of becoming extinct. 

He also said that the city will see a lot of changes in the following five years with departments giving great importance to the environment. 

ZP President K. T. Shailaja Bhat, who was the chief guest of the event, said that people used to hesitate to cut trees because they believed in the supernatural powers of trees. Today, people are no longer superstitious, but cut trees indiscriminately and are least bothered about the environment. She spoke of the importance of planting fruit trees to provide food for birds and restore balance in nature.

 

 

 

 

DC N. S. Channappa Gowda said that the MCC must make it a rule to college segregated waste from multistoried buildings in a bid to keep the city clean and urged citizens to inculcate responsible habits regarding waste disposal.

In his presidential address, Deputy Speaker N. Yogish Bhat said that 20,000 saplings will be planted within the limits of MCC and a report will be prepared after one year regarding their survival rate. The department will also collect details of saplings provided to various organizations, he said. He also spoke of how certain vertical plants are used as retention walls to prevent sea erosion.

 

O. Palaya, the MSEZ deputy officer, delivered the introductory speech on the occasion. Dr. K. N. Vijayaprakash, the commissioner of MCC, welcomed the guest and the gathering. The students of Roshni Nilaya, under the direction of Bhaskar Neelitheertha, staged a plan to create awareness regarding protection of the environment. 

The dignitaries on the dais were Mangalore Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, Deputy Mayor Geetha Nayak, Senior Forest Officer T. V. Mohandas, Forest Conservative Officer Shanthappa; and others.

The district-in-charge minister later handed over the prizes to the winners of the drawing and quiz competition held at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama.