The Department of Environment & Forests, A&N Administration, is celebrating the 72nd Van Mahotsava in the monsoon month of July 2021.

Van Mahotsav- the festival of plantation owes its origin to the great visionary Late K.M. Munshi, the then Union Minister for Food & Agriculture who launched the programme in 1950 with the slogan “Tree means water, water means bread and bread is life”. The benevolent services rendered by trees and forests in supporting the life on Earth and their contribution in mitigating the ill effects of soil erosion, air pollution, global warming, climate change etc. deserves not only our respect but also our obligation to protect and conserve them for our posterity.

Over the years there has been ever increasing demand for timber, fuel and fodder. To meet such demand there is a need on the part of one and all to grow more trees. The farmers should also grow on some part of their land holdings so that their daily requirement can be easily met. Similarly all Departments/Organizations/ Institutions and public should make efforts to take up tree planting on their vacant lands to improve environment around them. Van Mahotsava should not end with the ritual of planting saplings but should also continue with nurturing them till they grow fully.

On this occasion, I would appeal to all inhabitants of these Islands to plant as many trees as possible and ensure their proper protection and maintenance to keep these Islands more green, clean and prosperous.

I am confident that the 72nd Van Mahotsava this year shall also be observed in a befitting manner as ever with enthusiastic support of all stake holders.

I extend my whole hearted wishes to all officers, employees and Islanders concerned with conservation of trees & forests for successful “Van Mahotsav”.

JAI HIND!

Admiral D K Joshi

PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.)

Lieutenant Governor, A&N Islands

& Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency