JOIN USWhile government agencies and departments have scheduled World Environment Day celebrations for Monday, Bengalureans who cannot afford to skip work advanced it to the weekend which was filled with activities all green.
Sunday started with theatreperson Prakash Belawadi inaugurating a nature walk programme in Lalbagh organised by Karnataka Walkers Federation. Stressing that youth should play an active role in environment conservation, Belawadi said, “It is not enough to protect trees, we need to plant more saplings and nurture them. The government can’t do everything,” he said.
Federation president C K Ravichandra said efforts should be made to make Lalbagh plastic-free. Over 200 people took part in the programme where saplings planted near West Gate lake. Belawadi and Ravichandra distributed saplings among youths. NGO SayTrees brought 1,600 volunteers to plant saplings at a recently rejuvenated lake in Bommasandra. Another NGO, Adamya Chetana, celebrated 75th ‘Green Sunday’ by planting saplings near the National High School grounds in Basavanagudi.
Young Indians, Bengaluru chapter, which is part of Confederation of Indian Industry launched an initiative to improve Bengaluru in the Swachh Bharath rankings. The year-long initiative seeks to involve people in various activities to conserve environment.
On Sunday evening, Raag Abhinaya staged a streetplay 'No More Adjust Maadi: Our Planet, Our Responsibility', to stress on the necessity to come out of apathy and conformity to make a difference.
In HSR Layout, the residents welfare association invited tree conservationist Vijay Nishant on Saturday to hold a workshop on making seed balls. As many as 6,000 seed balls were made. “Besides residents, over 150 children from JSS and Cambridge schools. Seed balls are thrown near wetlands and they grow without the necessity of daily care,” Krupa T S of the HSR Citizens Forum said.
Hundreds of events are lined up on Monday with government agencies and departments organising programmes to mark environment day. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will present green awards and inaugurate an exhibition focussed on environment at Gandhi Krishi Vijnana Kendra.
KSRTC and BMTC have organised Bus Day to coincide with Environment Day. Several NGOs and resident welfare associations have organised programmes involving planting and distribution of saplings and seed balls.