A wide array of programmes marked World Environment Day in the district on Tuesday. The programmes were organised under the aegis of the Haritha Keralam Mission, Social Forestry, and District Suchitwa Mission. District Collector T.V. Anupama inaugurated the district-level environment day programme.
The Collector called for steps to create more awareness among the public of the need to protect the environment. “We need to inculcate environmental awareness in our culture,” she said.
Ms. Anupama later planted a sapling. Forest assistant conservator Sumi Joseph distributed saplings.
The Kerala State Youth Welfare Board in association with the Thanneermukkom panchayat conducted a programme titled ‘Save Water, Save Life’ to create awareness of water pollution in the district. As part of it, volunteers collected plastic waste from Vembanad Lake.
The Ambalapuzha block panchayat distributed 17,500 cashew saplings to residents of five panchayats under it. Officials said that the block panchayat had earmarked ₹6.54 lakh in the plan fund for the distribution of saplings.
In Haripad block panchayat, 3.27 lakh saplings have been planted. As part of the Haritha Keralam Mission, 5.39 lakh saplings have been planted in Aryad, Mannancherry, Mararikulam South, and Muhamma panchayats. The Pattanakkad panchayt launched a project aimed at planting 5-lakh saplings in its limits.
Seed kits
Vegetable seed kits have been distributed to schoolchildren.
Besides government agencies, NGOs and various other organisations also celebrated World Environment Day. Democratic Youth Federation of India planted 25,000 saplings in various parts of the district on Tuesday. District panchayat works standing committee chairperson K. Suma presided.
