Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 7 Aug: Chairman of Sardar Bhagwan Singh (SBS) University, SP Singh called on Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh at Lok Bhawan today. On this occasion, he apprised him of the status of the statutes of SBS University, the state’s first minority university. The meeting also discussed environmental conservation, during which Singh briefed the Governor about the University’s long-running ‘Gift a Tree’ initiative.
During the interaction, Singh informed the Governor that the University had been running ‘Gift a Tree’ campaign since 2011 in memory of the founder of Sardar Bhagwan Singh University, the late Sardar Gurcharan Singh. He added that the initiative encourages tree plantation as a tribute to the founder while promoting environmental awareness and ecological conservation.
Singh shared with the Governor that the campaign has achieved a significant milestone, with nearly 1.25 lakh trees having been planted under the initiative so far. Appreciating the sustained efforts made through the programme over the past 15 years, the Governor commended the University’s contribution towards increasing the green cover and promoting environmental responsibility.
As a symbolic gesture reflecting the University’s commitment to conservation, Singh presented the Governor with five Timru (Zanthoxylum armatum) saplings. He also proposed that Dehradun designate a specific flowering tree as the city’s official “Memorial Tree Species” to encourage commemorative plantation drives and strengthen public participation in environmental protection.
The Governor welcomed the proposal and appreciated the concept, recognising its potential to promote awareness about tree conservation while encouraging citizens to honour the memory of their loved ones through plantation initiatives.
