Udupi (The Hindu): D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, launched the State-level drive to plant seed balls and saplings under the ‘Vana Samvardhana’ (forest extension) campaign organised by the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) at the Vishnumurthy High School premises here on Saturday. Under the campaign, 29 lakh seedballs and 2 lakh saplings will be planted across the State.

Planting of local varieties of saplings in each district was important.

Speaking on the occasion after planting the saplings, Dr. Heggade said that climate change and global warming were serious issues affecting the planet. Reckless exploitation of nature was responsible for the problem. Air, water and environmental pollution had reached dangerous proportions in the last 100 years.

While there was lot of progress and development during this period, it had all come at a high price. The problem of water scarcity was now being reported from almost everywhere.

One of the methods of checking this pollution was by planting more trees. “Hence our project is encouraging women and children to plant saplings. We owe at least this much to our future generation,” he said.

It was to send this message in an effective manner that this campaign is being held by the SKDRDP simultaneously in all districts of the State from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Mr. Heggade said.

Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA, said that 16 lakes had been rejuvenated in Kaup Assembly constituency and nine more would be revived.