JAMMU: Charity begins from home, so it happened today. In a bid to promote environment and create awareness among the masses towards tree plantation, Minister for Forests, Ecology & Environment, Bali Bhagat has found a novel way and hoped it would inspire many in giving a fillip to afforestation activities in the state. The Minister celebrated the 3rd birth anniversary of his daughter Baby Oas Bhagat at his official residence with his relatives and close friends where instead of cutting the traditional birthday cake, he preferred plantation of a sapling by his daughter in the lawns.
After planting the sapling, the Minister conveyed his message for the promotion of environment and planting trees for saving ecology for the future generations. He said, he has decided to celebrate all such future occasions relating to his family in this way and would encourage others to adopt the same practice. By doing so, he said they can contribute immensely in rejuvenating the degraded environment and reverse the trend of climate change which is a major threat to mankind at the moment. He said, if every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir adopts this practice, more than one crore trees can be planted every year and can bring a green revolution in the State, silently.
The Minister utilized the occasion in conveying his message to the masses and appealed all to come forward voluntarily and supplement government efforts in addressing the environmental hazards in the State. He called for utilizing all auspicious occasions like birth anniversaries, festivals for undertaking plantation initiatives and creating awareness among others about the environmental hazards and its allied impact on the planet and its inhabitants which is the foremost need of the hour.