Jharsuguda MLA Urges Citizens to Plant 10 Trees Each as Kolabira Marks 77th Van Mahotsav
Jharsuguda: Calling for greater public participation in environmental conservation, Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy on Tuesday urged every citizen to plant at least 10 trees while attending the 77th Van Mahotsav celebrations organised by the Kolabira Forest Range near Sanyasipali village.
Addressing the gathering, Tripathy said large-scale plantation is essential to protect the environment and secure the future of coming generations. “Tree plantation is as important as food, clothing and shelter. There is no greater service to society than planting and nurturing trees,” he said, appealing to people to actively contribute to increasing the district’s green cover.
Kolabira Forest Range Officer Sudam Jagadala said the Forest Department has set a target of planting 1.70 lakh saplings across the Kolabira Range during the current plantation season. Of these, 65,000 saplings will be planted in the Kolabira Gramya Jungle area near Sanyasipali alone. He urged residents to extend their support in protecting and nurturing the saplings to ensure their survival.
The programme was attended by Tahasildar Manoj Kujur, ABDO Rajesh Roshan Gudiya, MLA representative Rajesh Das, Kolabira BEO Prakash Sahu, Laikera BEO Himanshu Bag, Assistant Labour Officer Debashish Tarei, Jharsuguda Ranger Bijay Pradhan and Bagdihi Ranger Bandana Pashayat, among others.
Following the meeting, a plantation drive was carried out at the site. The MLA and his wife, Gudiya Tripathy, planted a neem sapling after performing traditional rituals. Students, teachers, Forest Protection Committee members, women self-help group members and forest officials also participated by planting saplings as part of the Van Mahotsav celebrations.
