Van Mahotsav kicks off with planting saplings

CHANDIGARH: To celebrate Van Mahotsava-2018, 'Paudhmela' was inaugurated by Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher at the parking space near Sukhna Lake Club.
At the event, three stalls of UT forest department, Municipal Corporation, and horticulture wing of engineering department were set up at the venue.
At the forest department stall, saplings were being distributed free of cost while other departments sold the same at nominal rates depending on the species of the plants.Besides this, the Accacia Eco Club of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16D, distributed herbal plants, tulsi and giloy stems at their stall in conjunction with various other city-based schools.
After the inauguration of the Paudhmela, Kher flagged off the 'Mahindra Scorpio Getaway' - a pick-up van for rescuing wild animals and bringing them to healthcare facilities or for releasing them into the forest. UT chief conservator of forests Santosh Kumar informed that the vehicle was purchased for Rs 9.76 lakh, an amount granted under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme during the session 2017-18.
This was followed by a ceremonial plantation behind Rock Garden on Kaimbwala Road, Chandigarh. While launching 'Plantation Drive-2018', Kher planted a Jamun sapling. Santosh Kumar, conservator of forests TC Nautiyal, and other senior officers of the Chandigarh administration also planted saplings.
Kher urged the citizens of Chandigarh to take part in Van Mahotsava-2018 with full enthusiasm to make The City Beautiful clean and green. She said that if we adopt the 'Each One Plant One' theme, Chandigarh will definitely become a greener place to live in.
Kumar said during the event that the UT department of forests and wildlife has planned a series of activities and programme looking to involve all stakeholders in the ongoing drive as part of the Van Mahotsav-2018 celebrations in Chandigarh.