NEW DELHI, Mar 21: Underscoring the role of forests in sustaining life on planet, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today exhorted students to plant one tree every five years and thus create an oxygen bank to keep the life going.
“Every person must plant at least 10-15 trees during one’s lifetime and care for the trees, so that trees can create an oxygen bank. He added that just as money is deposited in banks, each person must plant one tree after every five years to create the fixed deposit of an oxygen bank,” Mr Javadekar told an assembly of students at Asola Bhatti Wildlife sanctuary here.
Speaking on the occasion of the International Day of Forest, the Minister observed the students were the agents of change as it were the students who could nurture and enhance the sensitivity towards environment. Emphasising the need to appreciate the true value of forest in the growth and development of the country, the Minister sought the cooperation of people at large to bring about an improvement in the quality of forests and to enhance the scientific management of forests.
He informed the gathering that to ensure the high survival rate of planted tree, the minimum height of the sapling at the nursery has been fixed at six feet. Delhi Minister of Environment and Forest Imran Hussain said his government will spare no effort to make the capital more green. School children presented a street play (nukkad natak) highlighting the exploitation of Earth and put up an exhibition to mark the occasion. (UNI)