Tampering with nature not necessary for development: Paul

DEHRADUN: Noting that environment conservation has been integral to India's traditions, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul has called for involving children in the ' Plant trees-Save Trees' campaign to help them understand that tampering with nature is not necessary for development.

The ancient Indian tradition of worshipping trees and rivers reflects the importance attached to environmental conservation in the country for generations and the tradition must be kept alive to save the environment, Paul said after inaugurating a Van Mahotsav at the Raj Bhawan campus in Nainital yesterday.

"Worshipping trees and rivers has been integral to our rich social and religious traditions. These traditions are a simple and pure way to express gratitude towards nature and inspire us to protect the environment.

"We must resolve to keep these traditions alive and contribute directly and indirectly towards environment conservation," he said.

Underlining the importance of handing down the traditions to future generations, he said more and more children should be associated with the Plant Trees and save Trees campaign to inculcate upon them a sense of reverence for the environment.

The children must keep in mind that nature should not be unnecessarily tampered with for the sake of development, the governor added.