Plant plenty of saplings to combat climate change: CM appeals to people of state

Mysuru, NT Bureau: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday appealed to people to plant trees as such measures is “must to protect the environment, to combat climate change and global warming issues that are causing an imbalance in nature”.

He said this to a gathering after inaugurating Laksha Vruksha 2024 tree plantation programme organised jointly by Rajiv Sneha Balaga and the Srikshetra Dharmasthala Gramabhivruddhi Yojane Trust held at the Karnataka State Open University Convocation Hall on the Muktha Gangothri campus in the city.

He said that the current forest cover has declined to 18 to 20 per cent in the state. Some districts like Gulbarga and Bidar comprise only 5 per cent of the forested land. At least 30 per cent of forest cover is a must for every state to balance nature and to bring rainfall, he said.

Though the population of the country has increased, the forest area is shrinking at an alarming rate due to deforestation, rapid urbanisation and other activities.

People are also dying from heatwaves in several parts of the country with the temperature crossing 50 degrees Celsius in New Delhi and other North Indian states.

The mercury level has breached 40 degrees Celsius even in places like Mysuru and Bengaluru, two cities that attract people for their taglines of ‘Pensioners’ Paradise’ and ‘Garden City’ due to their once-sober climate.

As the temperature is soaring every year, there is an urgent need to increase the forest cover in the state, besides everyone pledging to plant at least two saplings this year.

These measures are a must to tackle climate change. As the state govern - ment has targeted to plant nearly 5.2 crore saplings during this monsoon season, he asked the officials to ensure these planted saplings survived till they grew into big, independent trees.

The CM appreciated both Rajeev Sneha Balaga and SKDRP for distributing 20 lakh free saplings every year to people to encourage them to plant in front of their houses.

Speaking on the occasion, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre went on to add that his department has targeted planting 5.2 crore saplings during this rainy season. Last year, the state planted 5.40 crore saplings, he informed.

The government also directed his department officials to take up geo-tagging of all planted saplings.