Mangaluru (The Hindu): Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology B. Ramanath Rai on Saturday urged gram panchayats to have their own nurseries with at least 2,000 to 5,000 saplings ready for planting every year.

Addressing a gathering at the launch of planting saplings under ‘Koti Vruksha Andolana’ in Dakshina Kannada, the Minister said that the Rural Development and Panchayatraj Department could make use of schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for raising nurseries through panchayats. With this, more saplings would be available for planting in districts.

The Minister said that each district could have at least 20 lakh saplings raised through nurseries, including through gram panchayats and other departments. He said that law alone could not help save forest and greenery. People should realise their importance to save forests. People should have the attitude to save forests. “Now, many have realised the importance of forest and ecology,” Mr. Rai said.

The Minister said that global warming was the result of decreasing green cover.

Mr. Rai said that his department had requested temples, mosques, churches and government departments to plant saplings on their premises and other places.

Raising greenery and organising ‘Vanamahotsava’ should be the programme of all not the Forest Department’s alone, he said.

The department’s Aranya Mitra Awards were presented on the occasion. Spandana Nagaraj of Mangaluru; A Krishna Bhat of Balpa in Sullia; Lakshmeesha Tolpady of Shanthigodu, Puttur; Chandrashekara Damle of Sullia; Vidyashree Charitable Trust, Puttur; and Grama Aranya Samithi of Mandekolu in Sullia were presented with the award. According to a Forest Department official, 4.5 lakh saplings were available for planting in the district this year.

What is the commercial value of greenery?

Highlighting the importance of greenery and oxygen, Sanjay S. Bijur, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangaluru Circle, said here on Saturday that now a cylinder of oxygen cost about Rs. 700. An individual required three cylinders a day. Thus an individual required Rs. 7.66 lakh per annum if would have to purchase oxygen. One would have to spend about Rs. 5 crore during the life span if would have live on cylinder oxygen. But trees provided oxygen for free. Each one should realise the value of greenery.

He was speaking at the launch of ‘Koti Vruksha Andolana’.