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Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, July 16
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday exhorted children to plant at least three plants and to take a pledge to protect them for a minimum of three years.
He was speaking on the launch of a state-level “Paudhagiri” programme (plantation drive) in Kurukshetra. About 2,000 school students present on the occasion were provided with plants.
Under the Paudhagiri programme, the state government has set a target to plant at least 20 lakh plants this season.
Later, Khattar flagged off a Paudhagiri Chetna Rally. The district administration has fixed a target to plant 90,000 plants.
“The state government has been motivating children to plant and protect plants. A mobile application was launched under the ‘Selfie with plant’ campaign. Children who uploaded their selfies were given Rs50. Last year, children from Class VI to XII had planted 24 lakh plants. Sadly, only 2.5 lakh plants survived. This year, 20 lakh plants will be planted and efforts will be made to save a majority of them,” the Chief Minister said.
“Every child should plant three plants — one in the name of grandparents or parents, the second in the name of a guru and the third in the name of the environment,” he said.
The CM also laid the foundation stone of the development and renovation work of Someshwar Tirtha, Bhurishrava Tirtha, Kaleshwar Tirtha, and Saptasarsvta Tirtha. The development and renovation work will cost Rs308.09 lakh.
He said, “The ‘tirthas’ and other tourist spots in Kurukshetra are being developed. A budget of Rs97.5 crore has been allocated for the development of Brahma Sarovar, Sannihit Sarovar, Jyotisar and Narkatari.”
Later, Khattar attended Guru Daksha Prajapati Jayanti Samaroh. The Prajapati community handed over a 10-point demand charter to the Chief Minister. Their demands include five acres for an educational institute, participation in politics on the basis of population, the post of a DSP for international hockey player Rani Rampal and a 30-KW solar plant for a dharmashala.
Save water, plant trees: Khattar
Karnal: Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday emphasised water conservation and environment protection. “Plantation is sacred and everyone should participate in it to save environment,” said the CM. He was participating in the “Go Green” campaign of the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists and planted saplings of ‘triveni’ plants in memory of the Kargil martyrs at Karan Park. The CM also lauded the efforts of the Prime Minister to save water and environment and said plantation would play a massive role in it. He also visited Balwinder Kalra, former chairman of the Karnal municipal council, in Sector 13 to mourn the death of his father Sardar Mahinder Singh, who died last week. He interacted with party workers at the PWD rest house on Monday night and listened to their grievances. The Chief Minister exhorted the party workers to work hard to ensure the victory of the BJP in all five seats in Karnal. Councillors took up the issues of their wards with the Chief Minister, who directed the authorities to resolve them on priority. tns
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