AGARTALA/Sabroom, July 7 (TIWN): As a part of the 66th Van Mahotsav week, recently saplings of trees were planted at Amtali area under Sabroom Nagar panchayat. The celebration was carried out amidst of a cultural program at Amtoli community hall in presence of Sabroom Nagar panchayat Chairperson Mahitosh Chakraborty.

The celebration also marked the presence of eminent writer Timir Boron Chakma, Forest official of Sabroom Sub-division Parendra Debbabrma and others.

Speaking in the program the eminent writer Timir Boron Chakma said that the festival educates and creates awareness about the importance of trees among people and portrays the need of planting and tending of trees, as trees are one of the best ways to prevent global warming and reduce pollution. Van Mahotsava is celebrated as a festival of life, a movement to save mother earth.

Van Mahotsav is an annual tree-planting festival in India, celebrated in the first week of July. This movement was initiated in the year 1950 by India's Union Minister for Agriculture, Kulapati Dr.K. M. Munshi.  This festival has gained immense national importance and every year, millions of saplings are planted all across India in observation of the Van Mahotsav week, said Sabroom Nagar panchayat Chairperson Mahitosh Chakraborty.

Later the dignitaries also discussed on afforestation and the need to protect the greeneries in the earth.

However, Sipahijala District level celebration of Van Mahotsav to kick start from July 10 at Mohanbhog block under south Toibandol ADC village. All together 10,000 sapling of trees would be planted at   different areas of Mohanbhog and Kathalia block.

Apart 1,250 saplings of   varied trees would also be planted at Chandichora village area under south Toibandol.

Sports Minister Shahid Chowdhury is scheduled to inaugurate the program.

It is expected that every citizen of India has to plant a sapling in the Van Mahotsav week. It helps to spread awareness amongst people about the harm caused by the cutting down of trees. People celebrate Van Mahotsava by planting trees or saplings in homes, offices, schools, colleges, etc. Awareness campaigns are held at various levels. Novel promotions like free circulation of saplings are also taken up by various organizations and volunteers.