By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 12 Jul: Pradesh Congress Committee President Karan Mahara has directed the party leaders and workers in the state to celebrate Harela Pakhwada beginning 16 July and launch an “intensive” tree plantation drive on the auspicious occasion of Harela festival.
State Congress Vice President Mathuradutt Joshi stated that on the call of Mahara, Congressmen will celebrate Harela Pakhwada across the state by planting fruit and shade trees up to block and Nyaya Panchayat levels.
Calling upon the Congressmen, State Congress President Karan Mahara reminded the party workers that every year at the beginning of the month of Sawan, Uttarakhand’s folk festival Harela is celebrated and this year, the festival will begin on 16 July. Observing that Harela is a wonderful festival and integral part of the folk tradition of Uttarakhand, he said that the forests, gardens, national sanctuaries, national parks of Uttarakhand have great significant and contribution in the environment of the whole world. He said that Uttarakhand is a special state of the country in which 67 percent of the total land is forest land but at present, the actual forest cover is 47 percent while the remaining 20 percent of forest land is without trees. He also suggested to the state government that by making a plan to run forest related activities in 20 percent vacant forest land, it should be linked to employment. He said that the Himalayan region has a special contribution in protecting the country and the environment. Uttarakhand has made its important contribution in protecting the environment of the country and the world. In view of the fact that the glaciers and greenery of the Himalayas are continuously decreasing, it is necessary to organise tree plantation campaigns to protect the environment. He said that being a Himalayan state, the people here have a special respect and reverence for trees, but one should not limit oneself to only planting trees, but also ensure the protection of these trees as well. He said that the tradition of celebrating tree plantation as Harela festival in Uttarakhand is centuries old and the Congress Party government in the state had taken this festival as a movement and launched a campaign of intensive tree plantation.
Mahara said that the importance of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand in protecting the world environment has been respected at the international level.
