It gives me immense pleasure to note that the Department of Environment & Forests, A&N Administration is celebrating “Van Mahotsav” with great enthusiasm during the months of July to August this year with active involvement of people of these Islands.

Van Mahotsav - the festival of tree planting 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”.

 Let us resolve to ensure bread to all and participate in a mass movement to plant fruit trees during this “Van Mahotsav”, in the Azadi Ka Amrit Varsh. 

“Each one – Plant one”

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

I extend my best wishes to one and all for a successful observance of the “73rd Van Mahotsav” as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations this year.

Admiral D K Joshi

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

Lieutenant Governor

Andaman & Nicobar Islands &

Vice- Chairman, Islands Development Agency