Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi calls for tree plantation drive in state

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today called for a tree plantation drive by the people to save the earth and its environment.

He also said just planting trees was not enough and we should ensure their protection.

"We should plant trees on a large scale to protect earth and its environment. We should think about ways to plant more and more trees. But just planting them is not enough. Even if we plant just five or 10 of them, we should ensure their protection," said Manjhi.

Manjhi said Bihar had just 7 per cent forest cover, but due to the efforts of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to increase public participation and awareness in this regard, it has gone up to 13 per cent.

The Chief Minister was speaking at Bihar Earth Day function observed in the state since 2011 on August 9, the date on which August Revolution began in the country during the freedom movement.

"The August Revolution began with a war cry of 'do or die'. We need to practice the same zeal in environment protection otherwise our earth will not survive. We need to remain constantly aware and cautious about the situation," said the CM.

Saying that children could play a big role in environment protection, Manjhi administered 11 vows to school students to plant trees, protect earth and check pollution. He also said there was a need to increase public participation in this regard.

The CM said the worship of trees, rivers, ponds and earth is part of the Indian culture and we should never forget it. It is a way to protect the environment and maintain ecological balance.

Manjhi also launched e-plantation android mobile phone application on the occasion. It can provide information about the tree plantation schemes of state environment and forest department.

Environment and forest minister P K Shahi, education minister Brishin Patel, food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak were present at the function.