Srinagar, March 21 (KNO) : Moral Education, Environment & Relief Council of Private Schools Association, Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with Forest Department Thursday organised a series of functions on the eve of world Arbour Day.
According to a statement issued to KNO, the functions included plantation drives, seminars, debates and other activities were simultaneously held across Kashmir and Jammu divisions including Chenab and Pir Panchal Valley, involving around1100 schools. The biggest function was held at JK Public School Humhama, Srinagar, which was presided over by S Farooq Gillani, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Kashmir.
Gillani stressed on the need to conserve forests for posterity, sustainability and happiness in our lives. He said that earlier forest department would involve schools in the plantation drives but now schools need to involve the forest department to take the mission of planting more trees to the grass root level. He expressed happiness over the mass participation of students in the function.
While addressing the gathering, CCF highlighted the importance of international day of forests and laid stress on inter-relationship between forests and education. He said this year the department is planting 20.37 lakh plants under different schemes for rehabilitation of degraded forest areas. He said that schools will develop their own small nurseries for which forest department will render necessary technical support.
He also informed that the department has distributed 45000 plants amongst different Govt. and private schools of Kashmir region under institutional plantation programme this year. He said that the department will plant one million trees in next five years on zero budget mission.
G N Var, Chairman PSAJK extended full support of private schools in achieving the target of one million trees in next five years. He said that from next year the school will remain open on March 21 so as to involve children in mass plantations drives and also give them practical lessons in safeguarding the environment and forests.
The function was attended by Mian Javid, Chief Advisor MEERC-PSAJK, MY Kuchay, Chairman JK Public School, Arjimand Hussain Talib, Chief Editor Ziraat Times Nazir Benazir, Chairman National Society for Environment, Advocate Nadim Qadri, Environmentalist Conservator Forest Circle Central, South and North Senior Forest Department officials, Office bearers of Pvt Schools Association Ab. Majid Bhat, Mansoor Ahmad, Ishtiyaq Ahmad, Nissar Ahmad, Adil Mirza, Riyaz Katjoo, B A Shah and others.(KNO)