Udupi: Adani owned Udupi Power Corporation Limited on Saturday joined hands with Adani Foundation and flagged off the Social Forestry Programme by planting a sapling at UPCL premises, Rehabilitation Colony and distributed fruit bearing saplings to the residents of the rehabilitation colony. The programme was formally inaugurated jointly by S Prabhakaran, deputy conservator of forests, Kundapur division and Kishore Alva, executive director of UPCL.

Speaking on the occasion, Prabhakaran explained the importance of social forestation. Informing that society contribution plays a vital role in keeping our environment green and clean, he expained that one’s responsibility on plantation will not end only with planting a sapling, but he should own responsibility till thesapling grows into a big tree. The destroying of plants will disturb the ecosystem harming the life of birds, animals and also humans. Appreciating the concern of Adani UPCL in maintaining the green environment, Prabhakaran said that Adani is contributing for the development of society.

Later, Kishore Alva said that Prabhakaran’s vision on social forestry will motivate Adani UPCL in further strengthening the Vanamahotsava programme. He said, "Adani Foundation has earmarked Rs 35.63 lac for Social Forestry programme and has a vision of planting 50,000 saplings. Better yielding saplings of Coconut, Arecanut, Mango,
Neem, Chikkoo, Nerale, Jackfruit and 10 other different types of saplings are being procured and as a practice, the fruit bearing saplings will be distributed to 7,000 school children in Udupi district. "In the near future the company will carry out massive plantation in the lands identified by Mudarangadi, Palimar and Belapu Gram Panchayats and planted trees will be maintained for a period of three years.

"In the previous year, Adani had joined hands with the department of Forest, Government of Karnataka, in its unique programme 'Vanamahotsava Saptaha' under the theme 'Forest for Water'. This year too, similar support will be extended to the government."

Forest officer Nagesh compered the programme, UPCL’s AGM Girish Navada delivered a welcome speech and Ravi R Jere delivered the vote of thanks. Forest Officials Manjunath Naik and Abhilash, students and teaching faculty of Government Higher Primary School, Kemmendalu, Adani Foundation Staff Sudheer Anchan, Dheeraj Devadiga, Anudeep Poojary, Shivaprasad Shetty, Vineet Anchan, Sukesh Suvarna and residents of UPCL Rehabilitation colony were present on the occasion.