AGARTALA, June 10 (TIWN): this year state level 65th Van Mahotsav will observe on 3rd July at Udaipur. This was decided in a meeting chaired by forest minister Naresh Jamatia on Tuesday at secretariat conference hall. The meeting was also attended by chief secretary S. K Panda, DGP Balasubrmaniam and other senior officials. In the meeting it was decided to observe the Mahotsav throughout July month in the state involving all section of people in the society.

Speaking in the meeting the forest minister said that the festival educates the awareness 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 crusade 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.

It is expected that every citizen of India has to plant a sapling in the Van Mahotsav week. It helps 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 trees are also taken up by various organizations and volunteers.