Imphal, August 30 2009: As part of Van Mahaotsav celebrations, Rotarians of Imphal launched a tree plantation drive at Koirengi and Langol on August 18 and 30 respectively.

A press release isssued today by Public Relation Committee Chairman, RS Jassal stated that saplings were planted on the road sides around Maria Montessori School at Koirengi on August 18 and around Shija Hospitals at Langol on August 30 with a view to retaining the vanishing forest cover of the state.

Cutting down trees on a commercial scale has adversely affected the environment around us, hence this drive, RS Jassal stated.

He further stated that Van Mahaotsav was first started in 1950 by K M Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food to create enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation and planting trees.

Van Mahaotsav, a week long festival of tree plantation is organised every year in the month of July/ August, across India when millions of trees are planted.

The main purpose for planting the trees is to increase awareness about trees and love amongst the people, help soil conservation and arrest deterioration of soil fertility, and popularize the plantation and tending of trees in farms, villages, municipal and public lands for their aesthetic economic and protective needs.

It also affords however inherent advantage to help creation of shelter- belts around agricultural fields to increase their productivity, provide fodder leaves for cattle to relieve intensity of grazing over reserved forest and provide shade and ornamental tress for the landscape.

Jassal further stated in his press release that Dr Chourjit, President and score of enthusiast Rotarians including Dr Dhabali, Dr Palin, S Nilmani, Radheshyam, Jassal, took part in planting the saplings of native species of plants all over the road stretch about 1 km from Lamphel to Langol.

850 saplings were planted on both occasions.

Native plants such as amla, pine, jackfruit, yongchak and many more trees were planted as these can easily grow in the local soil and have a high survival rate while supporting the birds, insects and animals of the local eco-system.

The saplings were provided by the Forest and Horticulture department.

Since 1990 the Rotary International commenced campaign Save Planet Mother Earth tree plantation is the most important event.

Rotary club of Imphal has planted 23,600 saplings in various school/ Institute & public places so far & survival rate is assessed 60- 65%.As a part of this drive, Chingmeirong traffic island is also maintained by RC Imphal, said a press release by Public Relation Committee Chairman, RS Jassal.

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