Lung space in cities is fast shrinking due to urbanisation, while forest cover is dwindling due to encroachment of land by residents of fringe villages in the garb of cultivation and development of orchards. The indiscriminate felling of trees alongside highways and the reckless disposal of plastic and other non biodegradable garbage are adding fuel to the raging fire.
National drive
A mass campaign to plant saplings was taken up by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, New Delhi, across the country under the auspices of local youth clubs, women's associations and non-Governmental organisations. Dubbed as the biggest planting drive of India, the ambitious plan was to plant as many as 50 lakh saplings on a single day, under the programme “My Earth My Duty.”
In Tirupati, the drive was taken up in association with SETVEN, a state-run youth empowerment organisation at the Youth Hostel campus in Muthyala Reddy Palle on the city outskirts. Students from various schools took part and planted saplings. An estimated 10,000 saplings were planted across Chittoor district on the day.
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J.P.S. Negi, Hyderabad Zonal Director of the Sangathan formally launched the event by a token planting of a sapling. He was followed by SETVEN Chief Executive Officer B.Siva Reddy and Youth Hostel warden Captain Abdul Salam.
In a separate incident, 50 cadets of five (Andhra) girls' battalion led by Associate NCC Officer C.Bharati planted saplings at the Government Girls' High School campus in Chinna Bazar. Taking a cue, students should make tree planting a habit and do it at regular intervals, say, to coincide with their birthday or their parents' wedding anniversary.