Secondary Education Minister K. Parthasarathy has urged voluntary organisations to take part in the initiatives of the State Government in protecting the environment.
The Minister participated in a programme organised by Sri Amma Bhagawan Seva Samithi to plant one crore saplings, at Kennedy School in Kanuru in the city on Sunday.
On the occasion, he said that indiscriminate axing of trees and clearing of green cover was effecting the environment adversely.
Ultimately, it was questioning the very existence of man himself.
The state and central governments were taking many measures to protect the environment, and planting crores of saplings through Forest Department.
Underscoring the need for cooperation of the voluntary organizations to further cause, he said it was heartening to note that Samithi had come forward to plant saplings.
It was the duty of one and all to create awareness among the school children and handover the pollution free environment to the posterity, he added.
Samithi president Achyuta said that they would plant the saplings at schools, colleges, open places, on canal bunds and rural areas. Everyone should join hands to reduce the pollution by planting saplings and protecting the trees.
The Samithi adopted as many as 125 villages, and conducting free medical cmaps, vocational training, and night schools there, she said.
Samithi city president Sucharita, Kennedy School founder N. Eswar Prasad and others were present.
