Army wants state to.give award for plantation Trucs News NeTwoms, Kolkata: The state educa- {ion department or aecond- ary board should award trophy to the school, the stu.- dents of which plant the largest nombor af trees Ina year, believes Le Gen Haman Dhawan, general officer commanding, Bengal Ares ‘The GK was al the Kolkata Maidan on Thursday te par icipate in a tree plantation drive by schoolchildren. The children were enthusiastic and planted saplings in spite The Siddha Group has taken up plantation as its Corporate Social Responsib- lity (CSR) and was the pri mary organizersof thedrive along with the Army. Centre for Contemporary Cammu- nication and the Kolkata Municlpal Corporation, During thediy nearly 5b0 sa. plings wero plunted on the Maldan by students of more than 20schools in Kolkata. A Femalning 1600 saplings will be planted over the week. “The Kolkata Maidan isa wonderful place Where pea- ple- can. come» and “enjoy walks, picnics and play sports. People should take care of the Maidan. There mp Lt Gen Raman Dhawan, GC, Bengal Area waters a sapling at Maidan on Thursday: (L) students plant saplingsand (Ri the GOC Interacts with the students are certain Lusues Uke pollu. tion that wearecealing with the help of owe partners. We have also taken up the mat ter of encroachment with the state. It is great to see 30. many schoolchildren partle- ipate in the plantation drive However, they should return: from timetorime and see the progress that the saplings have made and ensure that they are not harmed,” Lt Gen Dhawan said, “The children should al: so plant saplings wherever they find space. It may be Tear their homes and schools. | slso feel that tha edueation department or secondary board should an- mounce @ trophy for the _school that plants the largest number of saplings. More agencies need to come up Cand assist in maintaining ~ ‘the Maidan, the lungs of the city The Army is committed to maintain any green cover within its jnvisdiction.” the GOL sald before planting sapling anil taking a tour of Ahearda, Ho also commended ef: forts by Tho Times of India to plant ters in the Maidan, “IL have visited the places where TOL has undertaken blantatton. Its a very good effort,“ he said, “Research has shown that carefully planted trees con lower summer timetem- peratures in cities, This re- duces power bills and global swarming. With this thought in mind, we have taken an initiative to promote aware- hess about tree plantation and a green environment,” said Sanjay Jain, MD, 3idd- haGroup,