NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JULY 12
Stating that several programmes are being run on environmental protection but only tree plantation can check pollution and save the Earth, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched the CAPFs nationwide tree plantation drive in Gurugam, Haryana.
The Union Home Minister said that the nationwide CAPF tree plantation drive has set a target of 1.37 crore saplings. Amit Shah, quoting from an ancient Hindu text, said a tree is worth more than ten sons.
दशकूपसमावापी, दशवापीसमोह्रदः।
दशह्रदसमोपुत्रो, दशपुत्रसमोद्रुमः।।
[A pond is equal to 10 wells, a lake equal to ten ponds;
One son is worth ten lakes and one tree is worth ten sons]
Amit Shah said, “We should harness natural resources and not exploit them. He said our sages had long ago emphasised that one must not exploit Nature but instead must support Nature. However, today due to consumerism, this balance has been disturbed and as a result we are facing the challenges of Climate Change and Global Warming. Due to exploitation of Nature, the ozone layer is depleting. We are emitting more carbon di-oxide and carbon mono-oxide into the environment and without the ozone layer life is not possible.”
135(Mahila) Bn CRPF conducted a massive plantation drive to enhance the Green Cover & Living in Tandem With Nature in Gandhinagar. Tree Plantation Drive was as part of Honorable Home Minister's "Akhil Bharatiya Vriksharopan Abhiyan". 2000 saplings of various trees were planted. https://t.co/bwUTDpHUg3 pic.twitter.com/KX4z7KsiqZ
— Central Bureau of Communication, Ahmedabad,Gujarat (@CBCAhmedabad) July 12, 2020
Emphasising on the important role played by trees in reducing pollution, Amit Shah said that various varieties of saplings have been chosen in this plantation drive such as peepal, jamun, neem, vatavriksh, burgud based on their oxygen giving capability and abilities to survive in different seasons. He said several programmes are being run on environmental protection but only tree plantation can check pollution and save the Earth.
Amit Shah said that the CAPFs must ensure that the tree plantation drive should not be seen as the conclusion. It must be ensured that the saplings are taken care of till they are able to sustain on their own. “I commend the brave CAPF Jawans and applaud them for not only protecting and securing the nation but also having undertaken this massive campaign to plant more than one crore saplings of long lasting trees,” he said.
On this occasion Shah planted a sapling of the ‘peepal’ tree. Union Home Secretaryi Ajay Kumar Bhalla, DGs of the 7 CAPFs and senior officials were also present. To mark the plantation drive, more than 10 lakh saplings are being planted at various locations of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) throughout the length and breadth of the country.
The tree plantation drive is an initiative of the CAPFs towards Green India and underlines the resolve of the paramilitary forces to protect the environment apart from ensuring internal and external security. These saplings are being planted by the CAPF personnel by contributing voluntary labour. Till June 30 more than 20 lakh saplings have been planted by all CAPFs across different regions of the country. The CAPFs will undertake similar campaigns in the years to come.
