Various environment conservation campaign programmes will be held here on June 4 and 5 under the aegis of the Kerala Initiative to Save Agriculture and Nature (KISAN) on the occasion of World Environment Day.
KISAN chairman and Kannur municipal vice-chairman T.O. Mohanan said at a press conference here on Monday that 1,000 saplings would be planted in the municipality’s landfill at Chelora as part of the World Environment Day programme. This was in continuation of the drive to make the dump a land of greenery that could attract birds and butterflies, he said. The drive had been started in 2013 with the planting of 500 saplings, he said adding that 1,000 saplings had been planted last year.
Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan would inaugurate the tree planting drive at 10 a.m. on June 4, he informed. Chief Forest Conservator D. Jayaprasad would inaugurate the distribution of the saplings for planting.
On the World Environment Day on June 5, an environment and health seminar would be held at 5 p.m. in association with the Police AR Camp Quarters Residents Association. Deputy Inspector General of Police Dinendra Kashyap would inaugurate the programme.
Mr. Mohanan said that KISAN has been actively involved in garbage-free initiatives in association with the municipality. The ‘Susthira-2014’ programme launched with the objective of making the town garbage-free has yielded results as the plastic collection centre opened at the Stadium complex was able to collect four tonnes of plastic waste every month for recycling. KISAN also has plans to start a collection centre for e-waste, Mr. Mohanan added.
KISAN vice-chairman K. Balachandran and secretary M. Rathnakaran were among those present at the press meet.
Afforestation drive
The Social Forestry wing of the Forest and Wildlife Department here will launch a tree planting drive on World Environment Day on June 5 in collaboration with organisations and institutions.
Assistant Conservator of Forest (Social Forestry) P. Biju said at a press conference here on Monday that the afforestation drive would be inaugurated by Rural Development Minister K.C. Joseph by planting a sapling in the Collectorate compound in the morning. At the inaugural function, District Collector P. Bala Kiran would present ‘Prakrithi Mithra’ awards to panchayats selected for their best environment-friendly activities in the district.
Mr. Biju said that a cycle rally to mobilise public involvement in environment protection activities would be taken out by students of the Kannapuram Higher Secondary School here at 10 a.m. on that day. He said that two lakh saplings would be planted through institutions.
