On the occassion of Harela festival a target of planting 1.30 lakh trees was set in Chamoli.

Chamoli: On the occasion of Harela, a folk festival dedicated to environmental protection and promotion, a plantation campaign was started on a large scale in the entire district Chamoli.

In the district level, a program has organized at Government Polytechnic College Rauli Gwad, under the aegis of Forest Division. Abhinav Shah, Chief Development Officer along with all the senior officials, public representatives and social workers of the district planted trees on Harela festival. A pledge was taken to protect fruit and ornamental plants of species like walnut, pomegranate, chura, harad, waheda, sandalwood etc. by planting them. The plantation campaign was also started on Harela festival in all the forest panchayats in the district.

Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah wished the people of the entire district on Harela festival. He asked everyone to plant trees and take a pledge to protect them on Harela Mahotsav. He said that trees prove helpful in protecting from climate change and its destructive effects and in creating environmental balance. On one hand, plantation will give us a clean environment and on the other hand, it will also provide relief from the emerging water crisis. He appealed to everyone to protect natural water sources, rivers and lakes by planting trees on a large scale. So that our future generations can get a clean and balanced environment. Special guest of the program Om Prakash Bhatt said that Chamoli district has always played a leading role in environmental conservation. While creating awareness about the environment, he appealed to everyone to plant trees on Harela festival.

Badrinath Deputy Forest Conservator Sarvesh Kumar Dubey said that with the cooperation of all the departments, a target has been set to plant 1.30 lakh trees in the entire district on Harela festival. Harela festival is being celebrated in every Gram Panchayat and Forest Panchayat. He said that plants will also be protected by fencing. On Harela festival, with the cooperation of all other departments including Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Water Institute, Education, a large scale plantation program has been started in the entire district.