Save Rispana campaign: 2.5 lakh saplings planted along river banks

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 22

As part of the Rispana River Rejuvenation campaign, thousands of people, led by Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat, on Sunday planted 2.5 lakh saplings along the river banks. 

After planting a sapling at Keranwan village, the Chief Minister said the huge participation of people had strengthened his resolve to save the river.

He said the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists were actively participating in the campaign. Citing the example of Thames in Britain, Rawat said if through collective efforts, the people of Britain could clean the river, why couldn’t the people of Uttarakhand revive the  Rispana. 

Saying he was hopeful of the river’s revival, the Chief Minister said: “It is our responsibility to ensure that the plants remain safe.” 

In the next phase of the campaign, a cleaniless drive would be launched on the banks of Rispana.

Earlier, Dehradun District Magistrate SA Murugesan said as part of the preparations for the Mission Rispana Rejuvenation, saplings of amaltas, shisham, katchnar, belpatra, amla, harad, baheda and tejpatta were being planted. He said saplings had already been distributed among schoolchildren through NGOs.

Murugesan said the Municipal Corporation, Forest Department, eco-task force, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Public Works Department, Irrigation Department, Jal Sansthan, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and others were participating in the campaign.