Green is my sword, make it yours: Saalumarada Thimmakka
You should understand the green concept and plant more saplings, as it is no use trusting government authorities anymore.
Bengaluru: “Green is my sword to fight for a better living, make it yours too,” was Nadoja award winner Saalumarada Thimmakka’s advise to hundreds of schoolchildren on the eve of World Environment Day on Saturday at Vani Vidhya Kendra on Magadi Road.
After planting around 100 trees along with the schoolchildren on the school premises, she said, “We are losing our trees and lakes in the city because of the negligence of authorities. Our lakes are all encroached and trees are cut for high-rises. You are the future and you must stop this.
You should understand the green concept and plant more saplings, as it is no use trusting government authorities anymore. Mahatma Gandhi used Charaka as his sword to stop people from wearing western clothes and promote our very own fabric. I am using the green as a sword to fight for a better and clean living. You should make green your sword too."
Go electric, stop carbon emission
Lithium, a transport company that uses 200 electric vehicles in the city, celebrated the completion of 30 lakh kilometres which is equivalent to reduction of 600 tonnes of carbon emission in the city.
During its green parade at Cubbon Park, Edwin B., a 42-year-old electric car driver who has an experience of driving diesel powered vehicles for about 20 years, said, “Electric cars bring down a considerable amount of pollution the city.
These cars run for 100 km a day for four hours of charge. Driving these cars is very easy as it has no clutch and gears. The maintenance too is low as compared to diesel and petrol vehicles."
Saplings for life
Staff at Regal Hospital in R.K. Hedge Nagar on Saturday distributed saplings to all the patients who were being discharged on Saturday and cleaned the road near the hospital.
Whitefield Rising too celebrated the World Environment Day through various programmes. “Afforestation movements have shown that trees are essential to minimising the impact of the severe climate change. Go forth and plant a tree. You can buy them for Rs 3 at your local nursery or join one of the many tree planting events happening around the city to commemorate World Environment Day on June 5," read the message on its website. Gift Upcycled offered a range of products made out of what would have otherwise ended up in the landfill.
VR Bengaluru in Mahadevpura held a two day eco-awareness programmes, upcycled vertical garden installations, workshops in sustainable living and eco-friendly products. Around 30 stalls and 15 workshops were organised to bring together vendors, growers, producers, experts and specialists.
Plant a tree
The Institute of Wood Science and Technology has organised a tree planting programme near Aranya Bhavan on Sunday morning, while former deputy chief minister R. Ashok has planned a similar programme at BNMIT Campus in Banashankari 11 stage.
BMTC and Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles have organised an Electric Vehicle Rally and Exhibition on Double Road. Minister Ramalinga Reddy will flag off the rally.
The forest department is selling around 4,000 saplings in 15 varieties at its nursery in Hebbal. The saplings, being sold for Rs 3, will include silver oak, teak, jackfruit, tapasi, sampige, bamboo, mahagony etc. The department is also planting sapling across the city and officials said that around eight crore seedlings will be planted across the state this year.