Thiruvananthapuram: On the eve of the World Environment Day, Prathid-hwani, a cultural group of techies at Technopark, in association with the forest department, distributed more than a thousand saplings on the campus.
“These were grown across 100 social forestry nurseries,” said Habib Rehman, convenor, Enviro-nment Day Celebrations 2019. “It’s our responsibility to Mother Nature.”
They believe the rise in the temperature in Kerala has a direct connection with air pollution. “The environmental pollution is rising because of human action and trees are an ultimate answer to it,” said E. Pradeep Kumar, principal chief conservator of forests. “Kerala is the only state in the country where the forest cover has increased, unlike others.”
He advises people to return to the public transport system, leaving their cars and bikes at home, to reduce pollution.
Some companies have started share-car services for employees. Efforts to promote bicycles failed to enthuse techies because of hostile climatic conditions. The cyclists sweat a lot, preventing them from entering the office, soaked in sweat and smelling foul.
On Wednesday, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will open the environment day event organised by the forest and climate change departments, besides Kerala State Biodiversity Board, at Vanashree Auditorium at 3 pm.
Forest minister K. Raju will distribute saplings to the audience.
A ‘Green Run’ will be organised from Kanakakkunn to Vazhuthacaud at 7 am, and a workshop on ‘Agricu-ltural Biodiversity’ at PWD Guest House, Thycaud, at 10 am. Also on the show are paintings and installations in abstract and Chinese brushstroke style by Flora Institute of Art and Crafts at Lenin Balavadi, Vazhuthacaud.
At ‘name your tree’ programme, children will name trees of their choice at Chinmaya Vidyalaya.
