Month Long Van Mahotsava Celebration Concludes
Port Blair, Aug. 1: The month long celebrations of 64th Van Mahotsava concluded on 31st July 2013 at a function organized in the Auditorium of Jawahar Lal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya by the Forest Extension & Publicity Division. Dr. Shashi Kumar, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests cum Secretary (E & F) and (S & T), graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Shri Madhawa Trivedy, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Secretary (Wildlife) was Guest of Honour.
Addressing the gathering the Chief Guest urged one & all to be sensitive towards Environmental issues, to practice ways & means which help in reduction of vehicular pollution. He reminded the gathering that apart from production of oxygen, locking of Carbon, Plants only are Producers capable of manufacturing the food & remaining entire Animal World is Consumer.
Citing examples of major disasters he mentioned that the recent disaster in Uttharakand is nothing but an Ecological Disaster due to heavy deforestation of the hills and blockage of natural water course for construction of hotels, roads etc. The Chief Guest also pointed out that the role of Forest Department is taken as Anti Development which is not true. We support Development in harmony with the nature and we the Foresters are anti destruction and not anti development.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Iqbal Ahmad, Principal Jawahar Lal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya expressed his views about the relevance of Van Mahotsava and the role of trees in reduction of Co2 gas in the atmosphere to mitigate the adversities of Green House Gases. He insisted that each human being should understand the role & importance of trees & plants and should voluntarily plant trees and must protect the sapling planted.
Proposing the vote of thanks Shri. B.P.Yadav, Divisional Forest Officer (Forest Extension & Publicity Division) made specific mention of the Print Media, All India Radio, Port Blair, Doordarshan Kendra, Port Blair for providing a detailed coverage of the activities undertaken by various Forest Divisions of the A&N Islands which has helped in decimation of information & awareness generation among the people of these Islands.
The function began with a group song presented by the Teachers of Education Department followed by welcome address by Chief Conservator of Forests (Research & Working Plan). Saplings of Rudhraksh Tree were planted in the campus of the College by the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, distinguished guests, Smti. N. Kala, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (CZ & FC) & Shri. J.P. Mishra, Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial) as part of the concluding function.
The winner of Elocution Competition, Miss Nazreen, a student of Jawahar Lal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya, was invited to present her Prize Winning Speech on the topic “Role of Mangroves in Island Ecosystem”.
The function was attended by over 200 audiences comprising of PRI Members, Students from Primary Classes to the College level, their parents, Officers of other Departments, Faculty Members of JNRM, Senior Officers & Staffs of Forest Department & general public.
Among the other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Shri D.M. Shukla, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and Shri. Thirunaavukarasu, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (R &WP).