Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 28 May: Public representatives have now become actively involved in the effort to preserve the greenery and natural beauty of Mussoorie. On Thursday, Geeta Kumai, the Councillor for Ward No. 8 of the Mussoorie Municipal Council, submitted a memorandum to the Range Officer of the Mussoorie Forest Department. In it, she expressed deep concern regarding the rampant practice of nailing posters and banners to trees—and driving nails into them—for promotional purposes across various areas, including the Mall Road. The memorandum stated that the act of driving nails into trees and pasting posters on them not only adversely affects the health of the trees but also causes damage to Mussoorie’s natural beauty and ecological balance. She urged the Forest Department to impose an effective ban on such activities and to launch a special awareness campaign to educate the public.
Geeta Kumai emphasised that Mussoorie’s identity is defined by its lush greenery, pristine environment, and natural splendour. She warned that, if activities detrimental to trees are not curbed in a timely manner, the repercussions will be felt by both the environment and the tourism sector in the future. She further asserted that environmental conservation is not solely the responsibility of government departments but constitutes a shared responsibility of every citizen of society. She also submitted a proposal to the Forest Department for a campaign titled “Mission Green Mussoorie”. Under this proposed campaign, suggestions were made to incorporate public participation-based activities such as “One Tourist, One Plant”, “Adopt a Tree—Save Mussoorie”, tree adoption programmes at the school level, forest fire awareness initiatives, and the promotion of plastic-free tourist spots. She concluded by stating that, if local residents, tourists, schools, and social organizations join hands and undertake small, collective efforts, Mussoorie can be transformed into an even cleaner, greener, and more eco-friendly destination. Appreciating the work being undertaken by the Forest Department in the field of environmental conservation, Gita Kumai expressed the need for continued collaborative efforts in the future. Local residents also welcomed this initiative, stating that such campaigns for environmental conservation are the need of the hour in the tourist town of Mussoorie.
